TULF chief gives UN envoy clear picture

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

The Tamil United Liberation Front chief and former Kilinochchi Parliamentarian, V. Anandasangaree pointed out to the visiting United Nations Humanitarian Affairs chief Sir John Holmes that it was due to the arrogance of the LTTE the human casualties in the battle ravaged areas became heavy. Anandasangaree along with the envoys of the four co-chair countries, Japan, Norway, European Union and the US met the UN envoy at the Trans Asia hotel last week. Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Indian envoy Alok Prasad were also present during the meeting. While detailing his views with regard to the humanitarian issues in Wanni, Anandasangaree told Sir Holmes that the sufferings of the innocent civilians were on the increase in the battle hit areas in Wanni due to the LTTE. "The outfit has no respect for the civilians. Irrespective of their age, women, children and the elderly have been kept as human shields by the LTTE. If those civilians are allowed by the outfit to enter into the safer zones set up to accommodate the civilians from battle hit areas the humanitarian crisis will drop drastically and the innocents will also be in the safer hands. But the LTTE is not allowing the civilians to enter safe zones and forcing them to live in worse conditions," Sangaree said.

Meanwhile making his observations on the assistance provided by the Security Forces for the Internally Displaced Persons Anandasangaree told the Sunday Observer that he was extremely impressed with the manner the women personnel of the Security Forces were treating the IDPs like their own kith and kin." They are very attentive and caring to the pregnant mothers, elders and to the children. It is very moving to see the way the men and the women of the Security Forces attend to the IDPs," he said.