Photo from Tamil SangamTamil Refugees Shelled As Army Closes In -- Times Online
Sri Lanka’s civil war is nearing its endgame, says the reporter blinded in one eye by an army grenade on the island in 2001.
MORE than 250,000 terrified Tamil men, women and children were trapped between rebel Tamil forces and the army in no man’s land in northern Sri Lanka last night as the 25-year civil war appeared to be nearing a violent conclusion.
A 48-hour ceasefire was due to end after the government promised to eliminate terrorism once and for all. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan president, vowed that there would be no let-up in the army’s offensive.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said a humanitarian crisis was unfolding and described horrific conditions in the conflict zone, sealed off by the government to aid agencies, diplomats and journalists. It said medical supplies, food and shelter were almost nonexistent and families were living in makeshift tents and ditches in the jungle.
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My Comment: This journalist was very lucky. The Sri Lankan Army has suffered heavy casualties in the past two months. The Tamil Tigers and the civilian population casualties must be off the chart.
The Sri Lankan Army is going to finish this war in the next few weeks, expect casualties to run in the thousands.