LTTE lays landmines to stop fleeing civilians

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

Becoming more fierce on civilians, who are trying to breakthrough the gates of the LTTE hell-hole, the Tigers have recently laid a swathe of land mines, in the densely populated LTTE controlled areas - Theravikulam, Visuamadu and Puthukudiyirippu in Mullaitivu to prevent the civilians fleeing to the government controlled areas.

According to intelligence sources, the Tigers, in a desperate attempt to hold ground in the wake of the heavy military push, are trying to retain the civilians by all means while burying large amount of anti-personnel mines around FDLs to keep the forcefully recruited young cadres in captivity. Knowing that they are at the losing end, most of the young cadres have started abandoning the outfit despite the stringent punishments given by the LTTE.

The sources said that a group of LTTE cadres consist of over 150 who have abandoned the LTTE and are now hiding in jungles as they are unable to flee to liberated areas to surrender. Recently fierce fighting took place between the run away cadres and the LTTE political cadres who came in search of those who abandoned the outfit. With its dwindling cadre strength to deploy to face the troops advancing from nine fronts to liberate 350 square kms, the LTTE leadership has instructed to cut down the month long combat training for cadres to two weeks.

LTTE can't cope

Those fighting cadres, who have a tag issued by the LTTE after the enrolment, are entitled to relief packets, but those families whose members refused to join are left without rations. Unable to cope up with the daily death rate which exceeds 15, the LTTE has now forgotten to pay their respects to the dead. The massive cemetery at the Theravikulam in Visuamadu has expanded by clearing the surrounding jungles and over 100 newly dug grave yards are kept standby.

According to the civilians who came from Visuamadu, 2,000 to 3,000 cadres were buried in the cemetery. However, the LTTE faces difficulties in handing over the dead bodies to the kith and kin as the angry relatives assault the cadres who come with bodies of their children. This has led the LTTE to bury the dead bodies without notifying the parents.

The sources said that the young LTTErs who were forcefully recruited to the outfit, surrender to the Army abandoning the outfit.

Difficulty

The LTTE is facing difficulty in treating the casualties due to lack of medical staff, facilities and vehicles. The LTTE leadership has ordered to kill the badly injured cadres and most of the other carders with minor injuries were left unattended to.

Informed sources said that the senior hardcore LTTE cadres have also fled to the liberated areas mingling with the refugees. The civilians said that the LTTE cadres fight without the instructions of the top leaders. For the last few weeks they have not seen a single leader. According to the civilians, the second rung LTTE leaders were plying on roads in luxury vehicles.

Meanwhile, LTTE had prevented an attempt of civilians who came in lorries, tractors and landmasters with whatever belongings they could carry with them from fleeing a few days ago.

To liberated areas

A long queue with over 75,000 people with the young and the old were lined from Puthukudiyirippu to Theravikulam to enter the liberated areas, but the LTTE had surrounded the civilians and beaten those who stepped further disobeying their command and later the LTTE had killed over 10 civilians when they opened fire to disperse the mass exodus of civilians.

The bodies of the dead civilians were displayed in an inhuman way to make the people aware of their fate if they attempt to flee. Some who spoke against the LTTE were taken to the LTTE torture camps at Visuamadu and Puthukudiyirippu later.

The intelligence sources believe that this trend would increase during the next few weeks and civilians would flee to the liberated areas despite all strong warnings, beatings and shootings by the LTTE which put the civilians forward to prevent the military stepping into their remaining small portion of land.

The sources confirmed that the LTTE used the four km long stretch of State declared safe zones from Udayarkattu junction and the Yellow Bridge on the A-35 Puthukudiyiruppu, Paranthan main road upto Iruthumadu and south of Iruthumadu upto Thevipuram to attack the advancing troops.

It is said that they have based their artillery and mortar gun positions in the safe zones taking the displaced civilians to ransom.

With the LTTE, which is the self-proclaimed sole representative of the Tamils, putting lives of thousands of Tamils into risk, the warnings and requests are now being directed to the LTTE to release its human shields.

Among them was the request by UN,Amnesty International and the former Peace Envoy from Japan Yasushi Akashi who asked the LTTE to allow the civilians to make their way to the liberated areas. "The LTTE should not be allowed to use civilians as human shields", he said.