Vanni civilians held back in Ki’linochchi in thousands

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 May 2009, 10:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) continues to detain thousands of civilians in its internment camps in Ki’linochchi without sending them on to the camps in Vavuniyaa, sources in Vavuniyaa said. SLA, in its final assault on Mu’l’livaaikkaal, has herded thousands of persons including non-combatants who had been working in the political and judicial wings of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in vast overcrowded camps which lack basic facilities, the sources added.

According to available official statistics, 1,70,553 persons belonging to 56,361 families are reported sent to Vavuniya internment camps until 16 May.

The fate of the rest brought to Ki’linochchi internment camps remain unknown, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Gen. Sarath Fonseka, SLA chief, paid a sudden visit Friday to Ki’linochchi to inspect the conditions of the persons injured and those who had surrendered, according to SLA sources.