Colombo, Jan 26: Concerned over the safety of
civilians caught in the war in Sri Lanka's northern areas, the
Bishop of Jaffna has asked the government to extend the safety
zone for the people, while appealing to the beleaguered Tamil
Tigers not to use civilians as human shields.
Thanking the Sri Lankan President for declaring a part of
the west of Mullaitivu as safety zone for civilians, Rev
Thomas Savundaranayagam in a letter to Mahinda Rajapaksa asked
for its extension stating that the area set apart is small
considering the large number of people congregating there.
The Bishop's letter also expressed gratitude to the
President for his concern for the civilians who have taken
refuge in Vanni in the ongoing military operations, while
asking the Tigers not to station themselves in the area.
"We are urgently requesting the Tamil Tigers not to
station themselves among the people in the safety zone and
fire their artillery – shells and rockets at the army.
"This will only increase more and more the death of
civilians thus endangering the safety of the people," the
Bishop said.
He requested that areas such as Mathalan, Valaiayarmadam,
Mulivaikal, Iranaipalai and the eastern sector of
Puthukudiyiruppu be also declared as safety zones.
He said that the only motive in requesting the extension
of the safety zone was to preserve as much as possible the
lives of the civilians in these areas.
"We are not against the war but our priority is the
safety of every innocent civilian in those areas of war," the
letter said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, January 26, 2009, 00:00