2ND LEAD

Mass human tragedy possible any moment in 'safety zone'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 April 2009, 23:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Tuesday night launched a full scale ground offensive attempting to break the last earth bund of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) situated close to the safety zone on Puthukkudiyiruppu - Mullaiththeevu Road, TamilNet correspondent in Vanni reported Wednesday early hours, Sri Lankan time. When the Co-Chairs countries have asked for the extension of ceasefire, Colombo's defiance and ferocious attack on the civilian safety zone are widely seen by political observers as efforts to fulfil the agenda of India, which is scheduled to receive TNA, Wednesday.

Heavy exchange of rocket and gunfire was reported as the fighting intensified in the early hours of Wednesday. Civilians inside the safety zone near the land route gateway were forced to remain inside the bunkers.

The fighting seemed to have ceased for 2 hours from 5:30 a.m. when the Tigers had pushed back the SLA from the bund. However, at 7:30 a.m., the SLA launched a fierce attack with the support of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and heavy mortar barrage. 16 bombs were dropped by the SLAF around 7:30 a.m.

There are civilian casualties caused by indiscriminate bombardment by the SLA and the SLAF. However, exact figures were not available.

Stiff fighting is going on as of 7:50 a.m. Wednesday.

As bullets fired by the SLA were whizzing over him, TamilNet correspondent reported from the safety zone, warning that a mass human tragedy would unfold if SLA advances offensive push into the safety zone as it seems it is aiming for bifurcating and capturing a part of the so-called safety zone.

Chronology: