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SLA denied transport to Vaharai injured for 3 hours- Elilan
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has not only killed 42 civilians and injured more than 122 others in Kathiravely in LTTE controlled Batticaloa district but has violated all humanitarian norms by delaying giving permission to ambulances to take the injured to the hospital, S Elilan, the Political Head of LTTE for Trincomalee district said Wednesday.
S. Elilan, Trincomalee Political Head of the LTTE
S. Elilan, in an interview to media, provided details of the Vaharai killings.
"SLA has carried out shell attack towards Kathiravely area with Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL) and artillery from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Wednesday. 42 people including children were killed and more than 122 were injured in this non-stop attacks. The attack was directed on Kathiravely Vigneswara Vidyalayam and its environs where Internally Displaced People (IDP) from Muttur area were housed, and people affected in tsunami catastrophe in 2004 from Vaharai and Kathiravely area were settled temporarily in makeshift cottages and tents.
"This is the fifth continous day the SLA has shelled this area. Three people were killed and eight others have been injured in these attacks before today's tragedy.
"Bodies of all killed in today’s attack were kept at Vaharai Government hospital for identification. Most of the injured are wounded seriously and the facilities at Vaharai hospital are inadequate to provide proper care to all the injured.
"On our request, the officials of the Committee of the International Red Cross societies (ICRC) are moving them to Batticaloa Teaching hospital for treatment.
"We have already informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) about this tragedy and the officials, have contacted the Sri Lanka Forces for permission to visit the scene. They had earlier informed us that SLA had denied permission to visit the area. However, later they informed us that they obtained the permission and now they are on their way to Kathiravely. We want them to witness the scene of the tragedy," Elilan said.
When asked whether the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) was still in force in Trincomalee district, he said, "As far as we are concerned the CFA is no more in force in Trincomalee district and the Sri Lanka military continues the attacks without any concern for civilians.
"More than 36,000 of people who were displaced from Muttur and took refuge in Vaharai area, are facing enormous difficulties and fear for their lives. We have informed the SLMM officials in Trincomalee district several times about the threats of military attacks and the plight of the people. Since nothing happened, we have now started working with SLMM officials in Batticaloa district."
Commenting on the attacks on IDPs from Trincomalee district, he said, "The Government has already blocked the relief assistance to the IDPs in Vaharai area. They were provided dry rations under the United Nation’s World Food Program (WPP) and that was too stopped for three weeks. Shelling has continued for 5 days. The main access route to Vaharai, the A-15 road, remains closed and other Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) are unable to bring the relief items to the area," Elilan said.
"We have already taken up the matter with the ICRC, which traditionally gives escorts to the food convoys, and other UN bodies, and they are too not in a position to do any thing as SLA routinely denies permission.
"The shortage of food is criticaland the people are in the brink of starvation," Elilan said.
"When the attack began around 11:00 am, there was an ambulance at Vaharai hospital. When people tried to go to the hospital using the ambulance, SLA first refused and later gave permission only after 2:00 p.m," Elilan told the press. [/quote]
the link for the above article
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=20209
More info on the naval battle yesterday in which the Sl Navy lost 2 crafts
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Sea Tigers sink 2 Sri Lankan attack crafts, seize armament, capture troopers
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[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 November 2006, 12:45 GMT]
 A Sea Tiger flotilla clashed with Sri Lanka Navy in the Northern waters killing 25 SLN troopers, capturing 4 troopers alive and destroying two Dvora Fast Attack Crafts, LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told TamilNet. The two Dvora FACs were seized and the Sea Tigers dismantled all the armament including a 23 mm cannon and a HK AGL gun. Dead body of a SLN trooper was also recovered by the Tigers. The clash erupted as Sea Tigers engaged in training activities were provoked by Sri Lanka Navy vessels in the seas off Nagarkovil in LTTE territorial waters, according to the Tiger spokesman. A third Dvora FAC was damaged. Five Sea Tigers were killed in close gunbattle, he said.
captured Sl Navy personnel
A 23 mm Cannon, five PK-LMGs, four 50 calibre guns and an Auto Heckler-Koch Grenade Launcher with ammunition were seized by the Sea Tigers.
Two Dvora's, P461 and P416, were sunk and a third Dvora sustained damage.
Reporters in Kilinochchi were allowed to meet the four SLN personnel who were captured by the Tigers Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan naval officials in Colombo claimed that the Dvora FACs which came under attack east of Point Pedro were escorting a vessel "Green Ocean‚" with 300 troopers on board.
The Tiger Spokesman denied the Sri Lankan claim and said there was no ship observed during the clashes. The clashes took place amid Kfir jet bombers and military helicopters attempting to attack the Sea Tiger vessels, he said.
He also refuted Sri Lankan Navy officilas claim that seven Sea Tiger boats were destroyed.
The Sea Tiger flotillas under the Command of Deputy Commander of Sea Tigers, Cheliyan, safely returned to their base in Vanni with captured armaments, all LTTE vessels and the recovered body, he quoted Sea Tiger Special Commander Col. Soosai as saying.
A Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Dvora Fast Attack Craft (FAC) was sunk by a Sea Tiger flotilla around 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the seas off Point Pedro and another SLN gunboat was damaged around 6:00 p.m. off Valvettithurai by the same flotilla which chased the SLN vessels into Kankesanthurai harbour, eyewitness reports in Vadamaradchi said.
Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers flew over the waters attempting to chase the Sea Tiger flotilla, the eyewitness reports from Point Pedro said.
LTTE military spokesman in Kilinochchi further said that the Sri Lanka Army was continuing heavy artillery shelling in Muhamaalai and Nagarkovil FDL areas.
Three SLN personnel captured by the LTTE from P461 Dvora FAC were: Indika Prasantha Pitiyakuburua, 30, (SLN registration number: EE17275) Mechanical Engineer from 37C, Kirinthiweva, Pundulu Oya, Nuwara Eliya, Samintha Kumara Hewage, 28, (XS 25749), Leading Seaman, Peliyakante, Kallewela and Kamal Hemantha Kumarasiri, 26, (XS 29966), Pathavi Parakramapura, Anuradhapura.
Anil Piryanke Madatheniya, 21, (SS38801), Ordinary Seaman from Nalanta, Matare was wounded in the clash and rescued from the SLN vessel P416, Sea Tiger officials said.
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shame on the Gov..it cant even fight and win a battle but knows full well how to kill innocents.!
the fact that the sea tigers were able to board a sinking ship and dismantle its weapons and rescue its crewmen is proof enough that the rest of the sl nany boats escaped and ran away as the eyewitness claimed