2ND LEAD

SLA uses Muslim villagers as human shields in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 September 2007, 12:33 GMT]
Around fifty Muslim families in the Muslim villages in Musali division in Mannnar are being used as human shields by the Sri Lanka Army that entered the area Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the Tamil civilians in Mu'l'likku'lam village, are moving to LTTE controlled area, sources in Achchangku'lam in Naanaaddaan division said. The area concerned is accessible to both LTTE and SLA but there has been no resistance from the LTTE, the sources added.

Muslim villagers who had resettled in the villages of Pa'ndaarave'li, Musali, Pichchaivaa'nipanku'lam, Koozhaangku'lam and Potku'lam after the MoU between the LTTE and the GoSL in February 2002 are being held as human shields, according to the Muslim IDP who managed to escape the operation.

The wounded victims of the Deep Penetration Unit Claymore attack in the morning were also transported across the Aruvi Aa'ru (Malwattu oya) river to reach Achchangku'lam before being taken to hospitals in Sri Lanka Army controlled territory in Mannaar.

Hundreds of Tamil civilians from other Musali division villages, Ko'ndaichchi, Kokkuppudaiyaan, Chilaavaththu'rai and Chaveariyaarpuram had managed to flee towards Arippu Church. The Divisional Secretary in Naanaaddaan was also arranging a school to house the IDPs who might be crossing the river as tension prevails also in Arippu due to the military confrontations.

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