Truth behind the accusations

Dr. Chula RAJAPAKSE

In analyzing the truth or otherwise of the most recent Tiger accusations that the Army shelling was responsible for the killing of several hundred civilians, May 10 and 11 in the newly demarcated “safe zones for civilians”, and the Army’s vehement denial of it, one should consider the following:

1. There were similar claims and counter claims by the Tigers and Army, before the Army breached the Tiger bund on April 20 that triggered the “great escape” of over 200,000 hostages to the Army in a few days., supporting the earlier Army claim that the Tigers were holding these civilians hostage, and not the Tigers claim that the civilians were with them voluntarily.

2. This position was confirmed over and over again by escapees that included Daya Master, former Tiger media chief, to many including visiting media and foreign dignitaries.

3. Prior to this “great escape” the Tigers had doctored many claims from within the war zone including from health personnel (including doctors) and NGO personnel accusing the Army of shelling civilians and hospitals, that were subsequently found to be untrue. Similar claims have been made during the weekend.

4. The weekend’s shelling of civilians in the newly identified No Fire Zone will only deter any of the still trapped civilians going there.

The civilians moving to the newly declared No Fire Zone will only expose the Tigers by robbing them of their shields. It would therefore, make sense for them to fire on the civilians to prevent them going there.

5. The Tigers have repeatedly fired on hundreds of civilians to prevent them escaping leaving the Tigers exposed has been repeatedly confirmed by escapees including Daya Master.

6. It does not make any sense for the Army to shell civilians as it would only give them bad press and prevent what they want to achieve. ie. separate the civilians from the Tigers so that they can mount the last attack on the Tigers which they are desperate to prevent.

The writer is Spokesperson,

United Sri Lanka Association,

Wellington, New Zealand.