More of LTTE brutality: Fleeing civilians shot and hacked to death

"We heard gunfire and we knew we were surrounded. Two boats with several dozen people were fleeing from the area and our boat was the third. They (LTTE) came running and directing small arms fire towards us from the coast. Several people fell overboard receiving gunshot injuries, may be they were killed on the spot or drowned. I don't know, but I saw one boat spiraling on the water and within minutes its engine died-off. They are killing us and killing at will".

This was what Soosai Jeyamarasa Jenistan, 20, had to say after being rescued by Security Forces in the shallow waters North of Chalai, while desperately fleeing from LTTE. He now feels fortunate to have defied probable death, hopes to start a new life and return home once LTTE is wiped. Jeyamarasa, his 48 year old father Isador Soosai and the Principal of the Therumurikandy Government School Asirwadan Soosainadar, 42, are among the many others who sought protection with Security Forces on 6thMarch, 2009.

This is just a glimpse of what is actually happening in the non-liberated territory under LTTE occupation. "People are held forcibly against their will in the largest hostage taking of any kind in recent history", a defence observer told our Wanni correspondent.

The crimes perpetrated by LTTE against civilians held captive in this narrow land stretch has gone un-noticed according to what is revealed by those who were fortunate to flee the LTTE clutches. Girls and boys are dragged from temporary shelters to undergo a crash course of combat training and explosives use and turned into suicide bombers, in what LTTE sees as its last line of defence against the advancing security forces.

Men, women and even the elderly are not spared by them. While, children are turned into human bombs their parents are drawn into the forefront armed with clubs, T-56 assault riffles and grenades to shield the rear assault waves of LTTE hardcore cadres. What is more staggering is the blood tax that these innocent people have to pay for this most ruthless outfit of modern times. The food, rations, medicine that are been sent for the stranded civilians by the Sri Lankan government and aid agencies are being forcibly taken by the LTTE. Only a few sacks of grains, flour and a little clean water is left for over 40,000 people who have to struggle with each other for what is left.

"These people are denied of their freedom of choice and taken to the edge of suffering any human can undergo", an aid worker at Vavuniya revealed, commenting on the ground realities in the non-liberated land territory with over 40,000 people hostage.

Continuing with his share of experience of near death from LTTE, Mr. Jeyamrasa, "It was around 11.30p.m, on 6th March, when around 300 of us prepared to flee towards safety from the LTTE in 50 boats. There were many LTTE cadres on guard surrounding the confinement camp. As we outnumbered the guards we made a desperate flee towards the shore and it was at this time LTTE started firing at us indiscriminately. I managed to get onboard a boat along with my family and my brother's. We heard gunfire and we knew we were surrounded. Two boats with several dozen people were fleeing from the area and our boat was the third. They [LTTE] came running, directing small arms fire towards us from the coast. Several people fell overboard receiving gunshot injuries, may be they were killed on the spot or drowned. I don't know, but I saw one boat spiraling on the water and within minutes its engine died-off. They are killing us and killing at will.

Then they [LTTE] started firing at our boat. My brother's son fell inside with a gunshot injury. We stretched as much as possible and started screaming feeling this was the end. We knew what the LTTE would do to us. They did no stop firing. My brother had stopped the engine after his son got wounded. Our boat was drifting and we were awaiting a brutal death from LTTE. This is what they do once you get caught escaping from them. They strangle you to death and make an exhibit of you, triggering fear among others of similar reprisal. With no option left we all urged our brother to start the engine and make at least an attempt to flee. He (brother) started the engine and we were on our way. At this moment LTTE had launched a boat into the waters in pursuit of us. Luckily, our engine was good and we passed even the first boat that took off from the coast. Still we could here gunfire from distance" Jeyamrasa further said.

"As the gunfire sound faded we looked back and saw LTTE boats approaching and slaughtering the rest of the people. The people were fired upon directly. Many jumped overboard into the water. They were pleading for their life but LTTE did not stop firing. They also fired at the people who were along the coast. I've lost count of the people attacked but surely they are not alive by now. It was such a frightening scene to witness. My children are caught in trauma and I don't know how they will recover from witnessing people been killed with such brutality", Mr. Asirwadan also said speaking with our correspondent.

"After fleeing for over 5-6 kms from the LTTE killing range, I looked at my brother's son and he was bleeding severely. A bullet had pierced through his abdomen and the boy was is in extreme pain. Fortunately, we were saved by the military while drifting in the waters off Talaiady and brought to shore and the wounded attended to immediately. We can now make a sigh of relief, but what we experienced back there will haunt us forever. We are in safe hands now and all we want is to go back and start our lives again, after the LTTE deprived us of all", Jeyamrasa further said.

This is just a glimpse of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the non-liberated territory. LTTE terrorists will continue perpetrating such crimes until it is stopped forever. This is what the so called saviors of 'Human rights', 'unbiased media' outlets and the patrons of the "victim industry" are trying to hide by drawing international attention away from the reality of the LTTE, a defence observer said.  Astonishingly, these media barons and HR saviors have shied away from reporting the status of the 15 UN aid workers and their families still held captive by the LTTE through sheer intimidation.

Working hand in hand with LTTE propaganda fronts, these 'un-biased' international and local reporters are making virulent efforts to throw a life line to LTTE now facing its endgame after three decades. This unholy nexus is also making all attempts to scuttle the present military surge with contradictory reporting and fear-mongering about battle and civilian casualties, and all the while concealing what the LTTE does to civilians it is holding by force the 40 sq km it is confined to now.