SLA troopers loot houses, shops IDPs left behind

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 16:32 GMT]
"Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers, paramilitary members and other local Sinhalese persons have looted the houses, shops, temples and co-operative stores in areas invaded by SLA in the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territories in Paduvankarai and Kokadicholai," S. Seeralan, Batticaloa district LTTE Political Wing Deputy head said Saturday. The SLA troopers are routinely stealing the live stocks left behind by the people and killing them for meat, he said.

"All residents of Kokadicholai area had fled to Batticaloa town due to the heavy SLA shelling. Besides, more than a hundred persons, including old people who could not leave, were forcibly sent away to Batticaloa town by the SLA. The looting has been taking place after all the residents had left," he said.

"Between March 8th to 30th, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers carried out more than fifteen targetted offensives to capture real-estate using Multi Barrel rocket Launcher (MBRL) and artillery barrage from their camps in Unnichai and Vavunathivu, and supported by 38 air sorties, Seeralan added.

"Small LTTE units have successfully defeated many SLA offensives. We are yet to use our full strength and our regular forces are waiting for orders from our high command," he said.

"The SLA stationed in Vavunathivu 3 km east of Ayithiyamalai and 3km west of Unnichai and from Chenkalady Black Bridge, have launched two major offensives.

More than 200 shells are fired towards Karadiyanaru area everyday, Seeralan said.

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