New safe zone for besieged civilians

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

As the battle in Mullaitivu seemingly enters its final phase further shrinking the areas under LTTE control, the Army Headquarters yesterday declared a new safe zone in the Mullaitivu district for the civilians entrapped there while making a fresh appeal to the besieged civilians to move into those areas.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News that the Army Headquarters has demarcated this safe zone as the Security Forces are fully committed to provide maximum safety for civilians entrapped or forcibly kept by the LTTE in the uncleared areas in the Mullaitivu district.

Accordingly, a four Kilo metre long stretch to the North of Udayarakattu junction and the Yellow Bridge on the A-35 Puthukuduyiruppu – Paranthan Main road upto Iruthumadu and another 8 Km long area from the South of Iruthumadu up to Thevapuram have been earmarked for this safe zone with immediate effect, the Military Spokesman added.

Both southern boundaries of the Udayarakattu junction and the Yellow Bridge touch the edge of the A-35 road as the demarcated safety zone is located North of the A-35 road.

As of yesterday the Army Divisions advancing from a South to North direction have reached closer to the A-35 from the south with 57 and 58 Division advancing West to East direction entering into the Tiger nerve centre Vishvamadu.

The Security Forces advancing towards the Vishvamadu area faced stiff resistance from the LTTE over the last few days as they fired a barrage of artillery and mortars towards the advancing troops taking cover behind the civilians entrapped there in Vishvamadu and endangering their lives.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that Security Forces believe that the LTTE is holding civilians in Vishvamadu, Puthukuduyiruppu and Mullaitivu North areas.

According to the Government Agent in Mullaitivu, an estimated displaced civilian population of 200,000 to 250,000 are living in the areas yet to be liberated by the Security Forces.

”The Army believes that the figure might be much less than the figure given by the officials operating there in Mullaitivu”, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

”So far only 2900 civilians have reached the cleared areas from the uncleared areas and a452 square kilometres are yet to be liberated from the LTTE ”, he added.