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Relief convoy of 64 vehicles to Vaharai turned back by Sri Lankan military

Relief convoy of 64 vehicles to Vaharai taken by several humanitarian organizations, under ICRC sponsorship, was turned back by Sri Lankan military today citing LTTE firing.

The LTTE has repeatedly requested the ICRC and the SLMM to go to Vaharai and only then get down the convoy. This would reveal to them the Sri Lankan military's devious scheme to stop the convoy reaching Vaharai. Unfortunatly so far this has not been done.

Vaharai people have been denied humanitarian relief for almost one month now. This is the third time in that month large convoy of relief has been turned back by the military citing shelling by the LTTE as the reason.

ICRC had already sought assurances of cessation of hostilities from both the LTTE and the GoSL in order to take relief to the besieged Vaharai people. The convoy of 64 vehicles left this morning only after this assurance was given by both bodies. Food and material to build temporary shelters were among the items that were being taken.

The convoy was turned back by the Sri Lankan military after stopping it at the Usan military post south of Mankerni. Sri Lankna military started shelling into Vaharai south while the convoy was stopped further south of it. Shelling was coming from several military camps north of Mankerni including Kallaru and Kirimichchai camps.

Since orders were given to the LTTE stationed in Vahari to halt all firing for the safe passage of the convoy, there was no firing from the LTTE side. One LTTE member was killed and two were injured in the firing. This casualty could have been avoided if the LTTE had returned fire.

The latest exercise by humanitarian agencies under ICRC sponsorship has also failed to deliver the relief to the Vaharai people.

See also :

• Vaharai in Batticaloa isolated and bombarded, six month old baby seriously injured

• Kithiraveli attack unprovoked – 45 dead, 125 injured

• Why doesn’t someone come and give us poison and kill us all – Vaharai people

• Sri Lankan military turns back convoy of food meant for Vaharai people

• The military situation since the Kathiraveli refugee massacre

• Food intended for starving Vaharai people seized by Sinhalese mobs

28 November 2006

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