Sri Lanka army accused of slaughter

Corpses of Tamil Tiger killed by Sri Lanka army

The Sri Lankan government would be responsable of carnarge in the North of the country, according to a Tamil Tiger spokesman. These events would have taken place while an offensive of the army against the rebels.

The confrontations between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger endure and are responsable of millions victims and refugees. Dramatic consequences which for the rebels are due to the offensive of the army. Indeed, a Tamil Tiger spokesman stigmatizes the government actions which consist to « shelling civilians and wreaking carnage ». « A hospital, an orphanage and many houses had been hit and huge numbers of civilians had been killed in a military onslaught of the area », he added.

The government has denied the allegations, in turn accusing the rebel group of targeting civilians. Army spokesman, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara, told the BBC that « only small-arms had been used ». He said « the Tigers were targeting civilians because they knew that if non-combatants left, the rebels would be "sitting ducks" ». Population would be in fact the hotage of these groups. According to the defence ministry, 31,000 civilians have recently fled the Tamil Tiger-held area.

It is one of the longer wars in Asia. However, Sri Lanka launched an ultimatum to the guerilla: they have until today to capitulate and to lay down one's arms. So a possible peace whereas the conflict has been runing for 37 years.

Benjamin Duclos