6 April 2009 - Thousands of Tamil protestors occupy parliament square demanding international action as slaughter of Tamil civilians in North-East escalates

6 April marks the 9th anniversary of the parliament square protests. Following 2 weeks of protest outside British parliament the number of demonstrators escalated to thousands in response to the intensified shelling of Tamil civilians in the North-East of Sri Lanka. Thousands of protestors took to the streets and staged a sit down demonstration in front of the Houses of Commons.

For an eye-witness account of the events see here.

The demonstrations went on to be the largest ever protests outside parliament in its recorded history.

Photographs: The Guardian

 Medical officials in the Vanni reported continuous shelling of the No Fire Zone, where an estimated 100,000 Tamil civilians were trapped.

6th April 2009 - Medical officials in the North-East report systematic shelling of over 250,000 civilians in  No Fire Zone

The regional officer of the Mullaitheevu Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS), outlined an obvious pattern of shelling within the No Fire Zone.

The officer reported that conservative estimates placed at least 250,000 people within the No Fire Zone.

5 April 2009 - Sri Lankan Airforce intensifies attack on civilian No Fire Zone

Over 200 civilians were either killed or wounded due to Sri Lankan Air-force bombardment of the No Fire Zone on this day.

Areas of Maaththalan, Pokkanai, Valaignarmadam, Iraddai-vaaykkal and other areas of safety zone were shelled

13th February 2009 - Tamil civilians face intense shelling as they flee to 'No Fire Zones'

Over 150 civilians were feared killed by Sri Lankan Army shelling roads that were being used by civilians to flee from conflict areas and reach newly defined ‘no fire zones.’

Several casualties and fatalities were reported along roads side from Teavipuram to Puthukkudiyiruppu, with the fleeing civilians forced to leave their dead on the side of the roads or bury them under intense shelling.

A further 90 civilians were reported killed by similar circumstances two days prior.
 

11 February 2009 - Hospitals bombed, relentless assault on Tamil civilians and calls for international protection

February 11th saw the Jaffna Government Agent (GA) made an urgent appeal to international non-governmental organisations to provide food and protection to over 2400 internally displaced people (IDP) that were in held across three Sri Lankan Military run camps.

The LTTE Divisional Political Head in Vanni, C Ilamparithy, whilst rebuffing Sri Lankan military claims that the LTTE were responsible for the slaughtering of civilian, urged the international community to protect Tamil civilians.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in a statement released the previous day, expressed ‘shock’ at the lack of protection and absence of international aid reaching the Tamil population in Vanni.

Speaking at an ICRC press release, the head of the delegation in Sri Lanka, Paul Castella said,

“We are shocked that patients are not afforded the protection they are entitled to.”

In a statement LTTE official Ilamparithy said,

“The ‘safety zone’ unilaterally announced by the Colombo government has been turned to a killing field by the Sri Lanka military. The Sri Lankan military machinery, which has relentlessly killed and maimed thousands of civilians during the past four weeks, is now engaged in a propaganda drive to divert mounting pressure on the Colombo government by the international community.”

“Colombo is committing the worst crimes of humanity, by killing and maiming hundreds of civilians every day with the ‘safety zone’ and by indiscriminately bombing medical institutions.”

“The international community must ensure the presence of international protection and the monitoring authorities to assure the safety of the civilians, including the wounded patients and their guardians who accompany them.”

The ICRC press statement also read,

“Most of the population is now displaced and completely depended on outside aid, yet none has reached the area since 29 January.”

In a statement made at the start of the month the ICRC expressed dismay at the Sri Lankan Airforce’s repeated bombing of  hospital and medical facilities in Vanni, stating,

“We’re shocked that the hospital was hit, and this for the second time in recent weeks. Wounded and sick people, medical personnel and medical facilities are all protected by international humanitarian law. Under no circumstance may they be directly attacked. The staff are under acute stress surrounded as they are by the sound of ongoing fighting and the influx of new patients. Ambulances are constantly arriving, but people are also being brought in by wagon, pick up trucks, tractor and even motor scooter.”