UN denounces a "bloodbath" civil fighting in northeastern Sri Lanka

New Delhi, 11 may 2009. - The recent fighting in the stronghold of the Tamil Tigers in northeastern Sri Lanka have caused this weekend a "bloodbath" as the UN reported today, which stood at 380 civilians killed One hundred of them children.
"We give good data by government doctors in the area, which reported the death of 380 people. Over 100 children are among the dead, "he told Efe by telephone UN spokesman in Sri Lanka, Gordon Weiss.
Weiss said the UN "does not confer" responsibility for the killing of the government and guerrillas accuse each other, but recalled that the organization and "had warned that there would be a bloodbath" for civilians are among the fighting.
The Sri Lankan army launched a few weeks ago its final offensive against the last redoubt of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a northern coastal strip on which are crowded between 50,000 and 100,000 civilians, according to UN although the government says are between 15,000 and 20,000.
An aid worker in Sri Lanka told Efe that is "impossible" to know what is happening in the combat zone because there are no observers in it, but recalled that the only side "with the military capacity to bomb from the air is the Government ".
On 27 April the Sri Lankan government ordered the army to limit their operations and end the use of heavy weapons and aerial bombing, although he had previously repeatedly denied the use of such weapons.
Despite the order, the fighting continued and escalated this weekend in Mullivaaykaal areas and Vadduvaakal, the last under guerrilla control, surrounded by troops in an area of about four square kilometers.
The head of the Organization for the Tamils ​​Rehabilitation (TRO)-also linked to the guerrilla, Lawrence Christy, said today that more than 3,200 civilians have been killed since Sunday afternoon and called for international intervention to stop the "genocide ".
A portal related to the guerrillas, Tamilnet, allegedly published photographs taken this weekend with victims of bombing and burning buildings.
The allegations of the guerrillas have been denied by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, which said today that it is the LTTE which is attacking the Tamil population in the area under their control to promote international intervention.
"They are bombarding their own civilians with heavy weapons to lay the blame on the Sri Lankan forces. In their calculation, they believe that this will lead other countries to throw a lifeline to redeem their souls, "Defence said in a statement.
The "Tigers" Tamils ​​"are powerless to resist the forces of Sri Lanka. They need their international friends and will resort to anything to attract them. So again civilians are targeted, "he added.
In recent weeks there has been growing concern about the status of civilians trapped, who, according to Efe said Red Cross spokesman in Sri Lanka, Sarasi Wijeratne, face an acute shortage of water, medicine or medical personnel to attend .
"Since last February we brought into the Area 2,350 tons of food. That amount is insufficient to meet even basic needs of people trapped, "said the source.
According to the spokesman, the Red Cross has pulled out of the area from February to 13,769 civilians injured or sick in 31 naval evacuation operations, which sometimes have been hampered by the constant fighting.
The Government of Sri Lanka has so far rejected all international calls to halt its offensive against the Tamil Tigers, fighting for more than 25 years for an independent state in the east and north of the island.
Both the LTTE and the government maintained an active propaganda to gain support in the conflict, but most of the claims lack independent verification because it is forbidden access to the front lines.
The organization Human Rights Watch has asked the Security Council and an investigation into whether they are producing "war crimes" in Sri Lanka, end on which the UN spokesman refused to comment.

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