Tigers snatch children to guard themselves

Shanika Sriyananda

Children in the LTTE controlled areas have become the latest victims of the Tigers' human shield to keep the military away.

The civilians trapped in Puthukudiyiruppu are now keeping their children-infants to teenagers, out of the LTTE's evil eyes in fear of abductions.

According to civilians who have escaped the LTTE grip, the LTTE snatch children even new born babies to hold back the civilians with them.

They said parents protect their children by keeping them inside barrels and holes dug in the nearest forest patches for days. " It is very heartening that some young mothers hide their children in small bunker like holes and spend sleepless nights guarding these places. They literally live in these places to avoid the LTTE abducting their babies," they said.

They also revealed that the LTTE attacks the troops with heavy guns kept within the civilians to provoke the military to counter attack. According to civilians, the Tigers have continued to fire at troops using heavy weapons while being in the Safe Zones - Mullaivaikkal, Vellamullaivaikkal, Mathalan and Puthumathalan.

All communication links are shut to the cadres and civilians. According to civilians, the LTTE still boasts of victory. " The Tigers want to keep us with them saying they need our support to win the battle. They warned that those go against the orders of the LTTE would face death.

They shot indiscriminately at the civilians who fled in groups and most of them, including children and elders, were found dead, they said. Meanwhile, the escapees of the ill-fated boats which sank in the sea of Puthumathalan said the LTTE has deployed Sea Tigers to chase the boats and teppam with civilians to kill them.

Twenty six-year-old Soosei Jemarasa who escaped death with some of his family members sought refugee with the 55 Division.

He said over 500 civilians planned to escape in 50 boats and they have started their journey at 11.30 pm disobeying the orders of the LTTE.

"Twelve of us got into a boat. Two boats carrying over 50 civilians were sailing before us and the Tigers started shooting at them," said Asiriwathan Soosainathan, 42, Principal of Thirimurukkandi Vidyalaya, recalling how he saw civilians including children falling into the sea following the LTTE carnage.

He said the Tigers shot at their boat and his brother's son was shot. "We started pleading with the LTTE not to shoot at us but they did not listen. We could not surrender to the Tigers as they punish the civilians who try to flee.

We drove the motor boat at high speed while the LTTE was shooting at us. I saw the son was screaming as he was injured and the women and children in the boat were crying," he said.

The group came to Thaleaddi and the troops of the 55 Division found them in the following morning. They were given medical treatment, they said.