PostHeaderIcon As Sri Lankan government forces battle Tamil separatists, death toll rises



In the decades-old war that pitted the Sri Lankan military forces against Tamil separatists, fresh fighting caused the death of about 380 civilians in the northern parcel of land in the island nation held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Aerial attacks and bombardment by artillery fire killed civilians--- a third were said to be children. More than a thousand people suffered injuries in the escalation of violence.

“Sri Lanka's military has cornered the LTTE on a strip of coast and seized 15,000 square km from them in less than three years, crushing the LTTE's goal of forming a separate state for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority. The war started in 1983.”----Stuff.co.nz / Reuters (05/06/09)

“Yesterday the UN and the Government of Sri Lanka announced they are seeking $50 million to address the urgent needs of up to 250,000 displaced persons over the next three months in the areas of food, water, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, health and protection, as well as educational requirements for thousands of children who have been without schooling for months.”----http: //www un.org (05/06/09)

Independent news media are prohibited to enter the war zone by the Sri Lankan forces, making it hard to know who are responsible for the deaths and injuries. Sri Lankan military operatives don’t want a humanitarian ceasefire which may allow the Tamil fighters to regroup and gain strength. These Tamil fighters are waging war to establish a homeland for about 3 million who are the minority. (Photo Credit: Noaman) =0=

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