Latest update: 03/02/2009 

- Sri Lanka - Tamil Tigers


Along Sri Lanka's vanishing front line
FRANCE 24's reporters travelled to Sri Lanka for a close look at one of Asia's longest-running conflicts. As government forces close in on the Tamil Tigers' last stronghold, refugees scramble for a way out of the horror.
By FRANCE 24 (text)

FRANCE 24’s reporters travelled along the road that leads up to Sri Lanka’s long-lasting front line, where government forces have all but routed the rebel guerrilla. Only armoured vehicles are allowed on to the battlefield where the Tamil Tigers defend their last remaining bastion. This territory of just 70 square kilometres is home to some 200,000 people, torn away from their families.

Up until now, the only pictures of the front line had been filmed by the Tamil Tigers, at a time when they controlled up to a third of the country. Today, however, their former capital city Kilinochchi has fallen to government troops. The army now suspects the guerrilla of having captured Tamil civilians to use them as human shields.  

Each day, buses crammed with Tamil refugees reach the city of Vavuniya, in northern Sri Lanka. These witnesses of the fighting confirm the army’s accusations against the Tigers. The refugees hope to find a free and safe haven. Instead, they are led into a camp surrounded by barbed wire. Indeed, government forces fear rebel fighters could be mingling with the escapees. 

Sri Lanka’s regular army says the Tigers will soon capitulate, after which the refugees will be able to return to their homes. The government in Colombo has promised to bring peace to the land. It points to the example of the country’s eastern region, wrested from the guerrilla two years ago, where it claims the Tamil population now coexists peacefully with the majority Singhalese. Yet, as is immediately apparent, the area is far from pacified and soldiers are still ubiquitous. 

Comments (10)

Along Sri Lanka's vanishing front line

There is no discrimination in SL. Tamils had it better than the others.To rectify the government standardized the education process. All other legislation, free education, free medicine,free social facilities, apply equally to all ethnic groups. No Tamil, including the ones that are abroad and now are regurgitating LTTE rhetoric can deny that. They are arousing the LTTE leaders of a non-achievable Ealam, who in turn are now holding their own tamils as human shield. What a liberator!
Do me a favour! Can you guys, since you have so much pity for those caught up in the crossfire, ask your liberator to release them please? That will solve the problem.

Along Sri Lanka's vanishing front line

In a press release issued yesterday the Co-Chairs have called on the LTTE to discuss with the Government of Sri Lanka the modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, renunciation of violence, acceptance of the Government of Sri Lanka’s offer of amnesty; and participating as a political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution; and call on the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to declare a temporary no-fire period to allow for evacuation of sick and wounded, and provision of aid to civilians.

Genocide Against Tamils

please stop the genocide against tamils.

100% Sinhala military killed 100,000 displaced 500000 librating?

Banning Journalists and International organizations and threatening Ambassadors from voicing their genuine concerns over again for the last many years, Sinhala majority government believes they can manipulate the facts, suppress the minority voices and whatever they can do under the cover of war on terror. World now knows the Tamil community finally resort to arm conflict after all other options failed and they were chased out and massacred in large numbers. If there were no Tigers, Sri Lanka would have been Rwanda well before and there won't be any conflict/any tamils there. See how Tamil diaspora is feeling and reacting. Take the representative sample (most important). Last weekend, there were around 100,000 tamil people protested in central london (despite severe cold whether) against the sri Lankan government genocide and against the international support. This is approximately 40% of the entire Tamils living in UK. In basic statistical sampling and understand the real message. Similary in Canada, France, Germany, Australia.. is anybody forcing 200,000 people to protest? Understand the root causes, understand evolution and understand the military / sri lankan regimes, understand the sri lankan political structure....typical genocide in modern days. Can anyone believe, 100% Sinhala military, which killed approximately 100,000 Tamils and displaced 500,000 will librate and protect them? If somebody says and another one listens, think about both. Understand the number of military personnel in Tamil homeland, Understand how many military camps & high security areas in Tamil Homeland, Understand how many houses, lands, properties occupied by them, Understand how many paramilitaries operating under direct government monitoring, Understand how Tamil are living as Slaves in military /government controlled areas. Please independantly visit these areas....talk to people....bring the facts....you will be shocked.

Do not get mislead !!!

Sri Lankan government is not participating in Genocide but fighting a true war against terror. LTTE has lost alomost everything, and now keeping the poor civilians as human sheild to protect themselves from the government forces.

The best example in Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It was almost under LTTE for a long time & recently that was liberated by Sri lankan government. Last year the provincial elections were held, and now (Islam)Muslim, Hindu (Tamils) & Buddhist (Sinhalese) are living in harmony in the Eastern province. Now the chief minister of Eastern province is a Tamil, who was an ex-LTTEer! The same system will be adopted in the northern territory too, after eleminating terror elements.

Only Loud Voice from Media and Organisations can stop GENOCIDE

You now can understand such a brutal ethnic genocide had been hidden from public eyes systematically by banning the media, threatening the human rights organizations and NGO and even governments. This is the typical prescription for a Genocide. Entire Tamil Population is under threat. Tamil Tigers were formed as a defence to this genocide after several mass murders and riots. It is widely considered, if there was Tamil Defence to protect them from Sinhala Genocidal regimes, there would have been a Rwanda like massive killings taken place eliminating the entire community. You have to note, Just one month ago, the Sri Lankan Military commader said, Sri Lanka belongs to Sinhalese ONLY. This message was endorsed by several major sinhala parties.

India's support on genocide

Based on the latest news, India has supplied Tanks and 3000 troops to fight against LTTE in Sri Lanka. It is unfortunate for the 250000 Tamils Trapped with in the small region and dieing everyday. Most civilians are dying because of the Cluster artillery barrage and Cluster aerial bombardment. Victims are from babies to elders. UN has to stop the war immediately to save the innocent people.
AranG

It is genocide against Tamils

UN needs to take action soon than saying sorry later. Sri Lanka government using Tamil Tiger(LTTE) an excuse to eliminates Tamils. It is genocide.

Genocide: Yesterday Rwanda Today Sri Lanka

Sinhala dominated Sri Lankan government agenda is to eliminate the
entire Tamil populations and this is what Sri Lankan government is
doing since 1948. Tamils in Eelam democratically decided to exercise
their self determination and free them from the Sinhala Sri Lanka in
1977 (Ref. http://www.sangam.org/FB_HIST_DOCS/vaddukod.htm). Instead
of accepting democracy, Sri Lanka wage war against Tamils and invaded
their home land violating even basic human rights.

Military Victory or Genocide - Need to Understand Deeper

You may aware, killings that is taking place in Sri Lanka against the minority Tamil community. The world needs the courages authors like you to be the voice for voiceless. I kindly and humbly request you to do a deep dive into this conflict and understand the root causes. In my personal opinion, I feel, this may be the model for the modern day genocide as it goes while the world and even the international media which prepares nice documentaries as history of genocide watch. The masters of these genocide knows the old definitions and bypasses all with even the support of the western world but do the same.
Is this Military Victory or Genocide? Hilter said military victory, but Jews and the World concluded "Holocaust", Serbes said victory but the Bosnians and the World concluded Crimes against Humanity. The Time has come for the World to Act now collectively in Sri Lankan Genocide. This can only by your loud and bold consistant voice of you and like minded people.

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