Forces did not shoot white flag carrying civilians - Jaffna GA

Jaffna Government Agent (GA) Imelda Sukumar giving evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Thursday vehemently rejected claims that said Security Forces shot civilians who came with white flags during the war.

She was replying to a question posed by Commission Chairman former Attorney-General C R de Silva whether allegation of Security Forces shooting civilians carrying white flags were true.

Sukumar replying said that she was the Government Agent for Mullaitivu from 2002 till January 2010 and she would have definitely known if such an incident took place. No such report was given by anybody, she added.

She maintained that the LTTE was using civilians in the No-war zones declared by the Government as human shields and did not allow them to enter government held territory.

Security Forces treated those civilians who came to a territory held by them in a humane manner, as it was reported to her by many people, she said.

Sukumar said that the Security Forces ensured adequate supplies of food and medicine to civilians in the war zone though some of it was appropriated by the LTTE. The Security Forces had maintained constant contact with her, giving her information and instructions which helped to save many lives, she said.