LTTE condems attacks on civilians, says Colombo disregards Indian concerns

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 October 2008, 18:33 GMT]
Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), in a statement dated 30 October, condemned the Sri Lankan government for carrying out indiscriminate aerial bombardment and artillery barrage on civilians in Vanni. "Within few days of the Sri Lankan Government saying to the Indian Government that it will not carry out attacks on civilians, it has carried out attacks on Paranthan and Vallipunam civilian areas," the statement issued by the LTTE said.

Full text of the press release by the LTTE follows:

Head Quarters
Political Wing
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
30 October 2008


Today morning around 9.30am, Sri Lankan Air Force bombers entered the skies over Vallipunam in the Mullaithivu district and carried out extensive, indiscriminate bombing raids on the civilian housing scheme setup by the Caritas-HUDEC organization. A school student was killed and six more civilians including a baby were injured. Children and teachers attending the two pre-schools and the Vallipunam Kanista High School ran in all direction in fear and sought protection in bunkers and under bushes.

Within few days of the Sri Lankan Government saying to the Indian Government that it will not carry out attacks on civilians, it has carried out attacks on Paranthan and Vallipunam civilian areas. Sri Lankan army is also continually carrying out discriminate artillery attacks on civilian settlements in Kilinochchi. Many civilians were killed, and injured; and many homes have been destroyed. In yesterday’s artillery attack, one man, Karialasingam Pirahalathan aged 43, was killed.

In today’s bombing, the student, Selvarasa Satheeswaran aged 14 was killed. A three month old baby, Srinivasan Thimilarasan, and a seventeen year old student Paramanathan Nivethini were among the six injured people.

We strongly condemn the indiscriminate aerial and artillery attacks on civilians by the Sri Lankan military.