Tigers hold civilians hostage

by Wijitha NAKKAWITA

The LTTE was forcing civilians of the small area in the North still under their control from coming into liberated areas under Government administration, assaulting or holding them against their wishes, almost all the civilians who had managed to arrive in the Government - administered areas were reported as saying.

Very recently a group of 18 civilians among them a number of women and children, who arrived in Vavuniya told the Government officials in that town how they escaped through the jungles of Kilinochchi to regain their freedom from the terrorists.

In yet another incident a group of eight civilians who were fleeing the terrorist controlled area were caught between the fighting ranks of the Army and the LTTE and one among them was injured.

When they reached an Army position the officer and soldiers gave first aid and sent the injured person to Vavuniya Hospital where he was warded.

Most of the civilians who had fled the LTTE held area in the north said the LTTE was trying to hold about 20,000 civilians including women and children to be used as a human shield when the Government troops advance into Mullaitivu the last strategic position.

Civilians had told the Government officials in Vavuniya that the LTTE had forced them to carry out various tasks to help their cadres, like transporting supplies to LTTE camps against their wishes.

If anyone refused to carry out the edict of the terrorists they were assaulted or detained in makeshift detention centres.

However it was learnt from the information volunteered by the civilians that they sought safety and freedom in the Government administered areas and the majority among the 20,000 estimated civilian population were ready to flee from the terrorist-controlled areas to the Government - administered areas, officials in Vavuniya said.