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SL military launches second offensive in two days towards Vaharai - More than 10 civilians killed

Artillery fired by the SLA fell inside the Kandalady Arunthathy Vidyalayam School turned refugee camp. Ten civilians have been killed so far and fifteen more have been injured.

Many of those killed and injured in today’s shelling are refugees from Patchenai and Vammivadduvan who displaced from there to Kandalady school. Patchenai and Vammivadduvan were subjected to artillery shelling yesterday in which more than 15 civilians were killed and more than 40 were injured.

Shelling is continuing as this news is written. People report that the area is being shelled from SLA camps all around including, Kallaru, Kadjuwaththai, Valaichenai and Karadikulam camps. Naval gunboats are also seen in the vicinity.

The Vaharai hospital sources informed yesterday that 20 civilians were killed in yesterday’s shelling and nine bodies have so far been brought to the Vaharai hospital. Of the 41 civilians injured yesterday, twenty six have also been admitted to the hospital, Vahari hospital sources said.

Vaharai hospital telephone line has been cut this morning. Suspicions are being raised that this was deliberate to stop civilian casualty news being released by the Vaharai hospital to the outside world.

Yesterday Vaharai hospital sources requested urgent transport of the seriously injured patients to Batticaloa hospital. The requests were made to the ICRC and the SLMM through the LTTE Peace Secretariat. Ministry of Defense refused land access to the patients and suggested sea route. Vaharai hospital sources have said that the most seriously injured cannot be transported by sea due to the rough seas. They fear that these patients will not survive such a journey.

The same request was reissued today by the LTTE Peace Secretariat to the SLMM. So far there has been no response from the GoSL.

10 December 2006

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