Sri Lankan Politicians make money from misery

Colombo, August 19, 2006, 7.11 p.m.. Sri Lanka's politicians are masterminds when it comes to making businesses out of calamities; the tsunami and even the recent eruption in Muttur are just two such examples.

Politicians often attempt to always score points whenever a catastrophe befalls their people. Apart from promising the masses the sun, moon and stars, some politicians, such as some of our ministers try to sound a bit more realistic and pledge to provide lunch packets in the thousands, but more than five days later after the pledge was made initially, no lunch packet let alone even a piece of stale bread has arrived.

When we contacted this minister to question him why he had not stuck to his promise of delivering 1000 lunch packets to the displaced he replied, "what nonsense! I initially promised 1000 packets but actually gave 20,000 lunch packets courtesy government money which cost Rs. 5 lakhs," he claimed.

Meanwhile, while the government claims that it has already dispatched 'more than enough' food items such as rice and dry rations, almost all the organizations currently actively engaging in relief work at camps in Kantale which according to estimates is housing about 40,000 displaced civilians, categorically refute such claims.

General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka M. D. M. Rizvi said that if the government had actually sent out the food items, and if the Kantale Government officer had received these items, why was he silent during a meeting presided over by presidential advisor Basil Rajapakse in Kantale mid this week, when organizations actively involved in providing relief to the displaced levelled charges that no government relief had been provided to the victims?.

"The rhetorical promises are continuing. Some politicians have come and promised 400 toilets to the displaced, some food items, while other political parties have put up notices on their websites requesting aid to help the victims, but these are only political ploys. Not a single promise has so far materialized," Mr. Rizvi, who represents MCSL, a network comprising more than 58 of Sri Lanka's largest and most influential Muslim civil organizations, said.Meanwhile, while acknowledging that there were shortcomings in the relief efforts launched by the government, Muslim Minister A.H.M. Fowzie categorically denied charges levelled against the government to the effect that 'no relief including food had reached the displaced.

"These are all lies. Food items have been dispatched already. Meanwhile, steps are also being taken to reconstruct the infrastructure such as the laying of fresh electricity and telephone lines, rebuilding of damaged houses and other buildings. Our aim is to create a good environment, better than before, so that this would attract the displaced to their original homes once again," Minister Fowzie claimed.

Shortage of proper health facilities and basic sanitation has meanwhile led to at least 50 of the displaced victims suffering from diahrroca, Muslim Aid country director Amjad Mohammed Saleem said. He also disclosed that due to the excess dusty conditions prevailing in the Kantale camps even aid workers and volunteers are beginning to fall sick with respiratory diseases.

Sri Lankans in California demand UNICEF action against LTTE child conscription

Colombo, August 19, 2006, 7.10 p.m.. Saffron-robed Buddhist monks, saree-clad women, and men carrying children's coffins were among the hundreds of demonstrators who rallied for two hours recently outside the Federal Building in Westwood, California demanding that UNICEF take action to bring the leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges for war crimes against children.

The escalation of tension between the LTTE and government security forces in recent months has led to an intensified drive by the Tigers to recruit children, which in turn is forcing hundreds of families to flee their homes.

Rallying under the banner of the local expatriate activist group 'Sri Lankan Patriots,' protesters called on UNICEF Director Ann M. Veneman to follow the United Nations' own resolutions and to invoke international laws such as the Rome Statute to bring the Tiger leaders before the International Criminal Court for conscripting children as combatants.

Spokesperson for the group Hassina Leelarathna said that as the world's leading children's organization UNICEF has failed in its attempts for over a decade to stop the recruitment of children in the island's north and east from the predominant Tamil militant group the LTTE. The UN agency is also accused of compromising the welfare of the children by cooperating with the LTTE - a view shared by the leading rights group Human Rights Watch.

"There is overwhelming evidence that the LTTE has conscripted children, some as young as ten, including tsunami victims, and we are demanding that UNICEF take the steps needed to bring the LTTE before the International Court, so similar punitive action may be taken against this group that has openly flouted international norms for the past twenty years," she said.

Buddhist monk Rev. Aparekke Punyasiri of the Maithri Buddhist Meditation Center said the August 5 rally is being organized in the face of the LTTE's intensified recruitment drive in recent weeks. "We cannot ignore the plight of hundreds of Sri Lankan children. It is urgent that we act now," he said.

Sri Lankan air force says rebel sea base destroyed, some rebels killed

August 19, 2006 02:37 EDT . BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lankan air force planes destroyed a strategic Tamil Tiger sea base in the north in overnight strikes, killing a number of insurgents, the military said Saturday.

Military spokesman Maj. Upali Rajapakse said separatist Tamil Tigers have been using the base to launch attacks on government positions in Jaffna Peninsula, which the Tigers claim as the cultural homeland of the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamils.

About 800 rebels and security forces have been killed in fighting in Jaffna since Aug. 11, when rebels made a major push to retake the government-held but Tamil-majority peninsula.

The strikes came as the country's president, in a phone call Friday to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said the doors were still open for peace talks with the rebels, according to the government.

Rajapakse said the air force hit a ``key sea Tiger base,'' referring to the rebels' fierce naval wing that has carried out several suicide attacks against the navy.

He did not reveal how many insurgents were killed in the overnight attack.

Air Force Group Cap. Ajantha Silva said Friday that the strikes were called as the rebels were reinforcing their front defense line in the north, the de facto border that separates rebel and government-held territory.

A pro-rebel Web site, Tamilnet, said the air force dropped four bombs on a site used to build boats as part of a civilian tsunami reconstruction project, and that two workers were wounded in the attack.

Rajapakse denied this. ``The Tigers were using this base to train their cadres and build boats under the pretext of building fishing boats. We have been monitoring this base ... and it was clear that attacks against the navy were launched from this base over the last few months.''

It was not immediately possible to verify either side's claim as conflict areas in the north have been virtually cut off to outsiders.

The two sides routinely dispute claims and death tolls offered by the other.

Last Monday, the rebels said the air force struck a children's home deep inside their territory, killing dozens. The military countered that the strike targeted a rebel base and that the dead were in fact child soldiers.

Violence between government forces and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels has spiked in the past few weeks in the north and east, where the insurgents have been fighting for over two decades for a separate homeland.

Most of the fighting has been focused around the eastern port of Trincomalee and in northern Jaffna Peninsula, where the 500,000 residents remain under a 22-hour curfew and food, water and other staples are running low.

The United Nations' refugee agency estimates that about 170,000 people have fled their homes since April, when a rebel attack on soldiers in Trincomalee sparked ethnic clashes and fighting flared anew.

On Friday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees called on the government to reopen access roads to the north and east to allow vital aid to reach people there.

In his phone call with Kofi Annan, President Mahinda Rajapakse also assured the U.N. secretary-general that the government would ``provide all assistance to U.N. agencies to conduct their humanitarian relief work.''

On Saturday, the government said it is sending 3,800 tons of aid to Jaffna, including food and medicines.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for the tropical island's ethnic Tamils, who suffered decades of discrimination by the country's majority Sinhalese.

A Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in 2002 was supposed to end the violence, in which as many as 65,000 people were killed, but with the recent escalation of fighting, the country appears to be spiraling back into all-out war.

Associated Press writer Cassie Biggs contributed to this report.

On the Net:

Pro-rebel Web site: www.tamilnet.com

Big NGOs gone missing during Sri Lanka's crisis

A week has passed and not a single officer attached to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has gone to Muttur to verify the actual fate of the estimated 100 to 200 Muslims who were reportedly slayed by the LTTE for their alleged links to an Islamic organization named Jihad, a newspaper report in the Sunday Standard (www.standardnewspaperslk.com) newspaper said.

Senior Muslim Minister A.H.M. Fowzie who had just returned to Colombo from Kantale told the Sunday Standard that he was absolutely mystified as to why none of these 'big-time INGOs' had not visited the crisis zones.

"I don't understand why they haven't gone. Even Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapakse phoned the ICRC head in Sri Lanka and assured security protection to all ICRC staff who go to Muttur courtesy the Army, but they still haven't' gone," the minister said.

He further noted that although no official number was available it was estimated that at least 100 Muslims were massacred by the LTTE, and the bodies may still be strewn across the onetime battle areas.

Meanwhile, the government's main Muslim ally's deputy leader Abul Kalam has slammed non Muslim political parties, international non-governmental organizations, and other 'big time' groups for differentiating between the hardships faced by the Muslim civilians and failing to issue even a statement expressing concern on the plight of their community.

Mr. Kalam, representing the National Unity Alliance (NUA) noted that it was shocking to note that the majority of these parties and INGOs had come out and expressed their condemnation and shock over the slaying of the 17 aid workers attached to the non-governmental organization Action Against Hunger, while not a single of these organizations had made any statements with regard to the situation faced by the Muslims in the East, where an estimated 100 reportedly been killed and some 35,000 are displaced.

"Not a single Tamil party or any other democratic party has openly condemned the situation which has befallen the Muslims. Why is everyone communalizing this, Why isn't anyone looking at this problem from a 'national issue' perspective ?" the NUA deputy leader queried.

He also noted that reaching out to the Islamic international community in hope of solace for the Sri Lankan Muslims would be an utter myth, when taking into consideration that this same Islamic international community has failed to open its eyes and react in the most ethical manner with regard to the Lebanon crisis.

"The Muslims who have been victims due to the battle between security forces and LTTE are frustrated even in the manner the international community, including the co-chairs and the European Union and even the United Nations has reacted to their plight. Everyone seems to be only interested in the 17 dead aid workers. There is absolutely no mention about the plight of the Muslims, which includes the killing of more than 30 and an estimated 100 still missing," Mr. Kalaam stressed.

Meanwhile, social service workers currently based in Kantale demanded to know where all these 'so called big organizations and their representatives' are. "Not a single authoritative officer representing INGOs in the capacity of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a plethora of bodies coming under the United Nations have visited these camps. It is only smalltime NGOs such as Muslim Aid, United Methodist Committee on Relief, Jamiatul Ulama, Muslim Foundation for Culture and Development and Jama'at-e Islami who are active in these crisis areas," sources said.

The sources also pointed out that it was 'absolutely appalling' to witness these so-called INGOs who claim to be working for the people peacefully traveling in their plush four-wheel drives and holidaying in expensive resorts, while civilians who are in need of their assistance are languishing.

Reports reaching the Sunday Standard disclosed that the sufferings of these IDPs are much worse than the victims of even the 2004 December 26 tsunami. Sources claimed that the situation was so bad that although many days have passed since they came to Kantale, most of them are still 'utterly confused'.

Citing reasons for their claim, sources pointed out that most of the camps housing these civilians were overflowing and was so bad that in many instances people were sleeping on top of each other.

"A small school in Parathweli in Kantale which taught some 1000 students is now overflowing with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) numbering a whopping 10,000 to 12,000 civilians. Kantale simply cannot cope with this sudden requirement, while lodging spaces and even basic facilities needed for these displaced persons are grossly inadequate," sources said.

They also stressed that in comparison with the tsunami victims, they always had the possibility of going back to their homes after the catastrophe ended, and most of them were relocated in close proximity to their original homes unlike in the case of these nearly 50,000 displaced, who have been temporarily sheltered some 50 kilometres away from their homes.

"The most important factor was that the tsunami victims had absolutely no security threat unlike what has befallen these Muttur IDPs," sources added.

Sri Lanka's displaced Muslims demand security guarantee to return

The nearly 50,000 displaced civilians from Muttur, Thoppur and surrounding villages have laid down tough conditions if they are to return to their original homes. The majority of the displaced consisting of about 35,000 Muslims have categorically demanded that both the government and the LTTE must 'guarantee their absolute safety and security', sources from the East said.

"Hands off us, do whatever you'll want to each other but keep us out of your fighting," is what they are echoing to both parties. The recent incidents in Muttur and Trincomalee in general have also infused the minds of many of these civilians who may likely even demand arms if authorities fail to provide them with adequate security in the future.

The civilians will not be 'comfortable' with a unilateral guarantee, because after all the STF, Army and police were present when Muttur came under siege by the LTTE, sources noted.

However sources pointed out that although the demand for adequate security had been echoed often in the past, it would very likely fall on deaf ears once again, thereby paving the way for these civilians to have no option but to return to their homes with or without security, which may also make them rebellious.

Meanwhile, the Government's main Muslim ally, National Unity Alliance (NUA) has alleged that the general notion among the displaced Muslims was that the 'Mavil Aru' operation was just an excuse by both parties whose actual target appeared to be the 'Muslim civilians'.

NUA deputy leader Abul Kalam said that the intentions of both parties is questionable, on grounds that even the security forces had initiated action from densely populated Muslim areas in Muttur instead of the heavily populated Tamil areas in Muttur.

The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kantale alone is estimated at around 40,000 while the balance are scattered around nearby areas including Kinniya and Mollipatana.

8 Tamil Tiger rebels killed in Sri Lanka , official says

Associated Press, Wed August 16, 2006 06:15 EDT . BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Government forces killed eight separatist Tamil Tiger rebels during a gunbattle in northern Sri Lanka - , officials said Wednesday, as air strikes and exchanges of artillery continued to threaten the country's fragile cease-fire. Separately on Wednesday, an elite police unit killed three rebels who had attacked a police patrol in eastern Sri Lanka - , military spokesman Maj. Upali Rajapakse said.

There was no immediate comment from the rebels, but each side routinely disputes figures offered by the other, and reliable casualty counts are nearly impossible to come by.The air strikes were concentrated in northern territories controlled by the Tigers, whose forces battled soldiers with artillery on the Jaffna Peninsula, the Tamil heartland on the country's northern tip.

``On and off, (the rebels) are firing artillery into government-controlled areas and we have successfully repulsed those attacks,'' Rajapakse said.

He said fighter jets bombed insurgent positions in an effort to aid the ground troops on the peninsula, which is controlled by the government but surrounded by rebel territory.

He refused to say if there were any casualties. Officials have said that following weekend clashes in Jaffna, soldiers recovered the bodies of 79 rebels out of more than 200 believed killed. The fighting also killed 90 soldiers and sailors.

Schools around Sri Lanka - , meanwhile, remained empty after the government ordered them shut, fearing they could be targeted by the Tigers.

Aid workers estimate that around 100,000 people have been displaced by fighting in northern and eastern Sri Lanka - since July.

In Jaffna, daily 22-hour curfews have kept the city's 500,000 residents locked in their homes. With the city largely cut off, prices were rising fast, there was only about an hour of electricity a day and mobile phones were barely working.

Norway brokered a 2002 cease-fire between the government and the rebels, who have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for the country's 3.2 million minority Tamils, most of whom are Hindu. The government is dominated by Sri Lanka - 's 14 million predominantly Buddhist Sinhalese.

Although the truce remains officially in effect, violence has been rising for more than a year, and the open fighting in recent weeks in the north and east has pushed the country toward a resumption of full-scale war

PRESIDENT URGED TO RE-OPEN ACCESS ROADS

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) chairman Basheer Segu Dawood MP has appealed to President Mahinda Rajapakse to authorize the immediate reopening of all access roads in uncontrolled areas of Batticaloa facilitating resumption of transport services to main highways in the government controlled areas in the light of the untold sufferings now being encountered by nearly 90,000 Tamil and Muslim people for want of their essential food and medical requirements. In a faxed appeal to the President, the party chairman has stated that Vavunadivu, Chengalady Karuththapalam roads in uncontrolled areas that lead to the Badulla highway and other roads including the Vaganeri road through Sithandy, Sandanamadu and Kawattamunai and also the Paddiruppu bride which were used every by thousands of people to procure their day to day requirements are remaining closed for several days.

HARTAL IN LTTE AREAS OVER AIR ATTACKS

A hartal was observed yesterday, August 15, in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts in LTTE controlled Vanni region as a mark of mourning and protest over Sri Lankan air force air attacks on Monday on a purported children's home in Kilinochchi in which 61 teenage girls were killed and 129 were wounded. As a result transport services completely ground to a halt, all business establishments including shops and all offices and government establishments remained closed, according to reports. A massive protest rally and march was held in Kilinochchi, the reports said. The UNICEF resident representative who addressed the rally was reported as a saying that he visited the scene of the incident where innocent students had become tragic victims of air attacks and he fully understood the grief and sentiments of the people. The incident had drawn criticism from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as well.

While government spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwela, has stated that those killed and wounded were LTTE recruits who were receiving guerilla training at an LTTE military camp which was targeted and attacked by the air force with pinpoint precision, the LTTE's Tamil Eelam Education Board director, V.Ilankumaran, is quoted by the pro-TamilNet website as saying that those killed and wounded were GCE(OL) students from different colleges in their areas who had come participate in a 10 day residential workshop on "leadership, self-awareness and first-aid".

Although it was stated by government high-ups within hours of the incident that a committee would be appointed to probe ‘to ascertain the facts and solve the mystery behind the deaths', Minister Rambukwela has now stated that the government has concrete evidence to prove that the target attacked was an LTTE training camp and the government has no regrets over the attack. The Minister had also reacted strongly on SLMM monitors' remarks that ‘they could not find any evidence of military installations of weapons at the scene of the incident'.

Sri Lanka's ceasefire monitors condemns the 'vicious, cold blooded murder' of Loganathan

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in an unusually personally worded statement has condemned the cold blooded murder of the government's peace secretariat deputy chief Katesh Loganathan, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen yesterday night at his home in Dehiwela.

"There are no words strong enough to condemn this viscous and cold blooded murder of yet another statesman living for peace," the SLMM said in the statement issued today afternoon.

"After having worked with Katesh Loganathan, and last time met him on Friday 11 August 2006, the message of his death came as a shock, not only for SLMM, but also for all people longing for peace. Taking part in his experiences, his well founded arguments and his professionalism has been a pleasure for all people who got to work with him," the statement added.

Tamil rebels say peace talks impossible as fighting rages in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka - 's government said Sunday it was ready to hold peace talks, a move promptly dismissed as impossible by the Tamil Tiger rebels as soldiers and insurgents traded artillery and mortar fire in the country's north. The latest round of fighting began in late July over a rebel-controlled water supply near the eastern port of Trincomalee, and has in recent days spread to other parts of the east and to the northern Jaffna Peninsula, the heartland of Sri Lanka - 's Tamil minority in whose name the insurgents claim to fight.

Tigers and government forces exchanged artillery fire Sunday near two key entry points to the peninsula, the villages of Muhamalai and Nargarkovil. Most of the peninsula has been controlled by the government for over a decade, and both villages lie along the line dividing government and rebel territory.

Thousands were reportedly trapped by the weekend's battles on the peninsula, which is closed to outsiders because of the fighting.

Both sides blame each other for the clashes, and Puleedevan insisted Sunday that the government must stop attacks and allow some 50,000 displaced people to return home.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from Sunday's fighting, but the government said Saturday that its forces had killed more than 200 rebels and lost 27 of their own in the day's fighting. There was no word from the rebels about casualties.

Government and rebel estimates of the death toll in the fighting since July vary wildly, but scores have been killed, including 17 Sri Lankans working for the Paris-based aid group Action Against Hunger. All but one of the aid workers was Tamil.

The 2002 cease-fire was intended to halt more than two decades of bloodshed between the government, dominated by Sri Lanka - 's 14 million Sinhalese, and the rebels, who have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for Tamils in the north and east.

While the cease-fire remains officially in effect, it had been left in tatters by months of shootings and bombings before the latest round of clashes.

The peninsula was the scene of intense fighting during Sri Lanka - 's two decade-long civil war, with control changing sides a couple times before ending up in government hands in 1995.

Meanwhile, two suspected Tiger suicide bombers were detained Sunday in Colombo. One successfully killed himself by swallowing cyanide, and the other was rushed to a hospital after trying to do the same.

All of the rebels are supposed to carry cyanide capsules around their neck so the can kill themselves if caught.

On the Net:

Peace Secretariat Web site: www.peaceinsrilanka.org

Pro-rebel Web site: www.tamilnet.com

Forces retaliate major attack on Jaffna FDLs

Security Forces in Jaffna yesterday retaliated a major LTTE artillery and mortar fire on Muhamalai and Nagarkovil Forward Defence Lines (FDL) from 5.45 p.m. yesterday, Senior Coordinator to the Media Centre for National Security, Major Upali Rajapakse told the Daily News.

Fierce fighting erupted at 5.45 p.m. as security forces began retaliating the LTTE fire with the Tigers continuing with their artillery fire that commenced at 5.10 p.m.

"Security forces retaliated the LTTE artillery and mortar fire at 5.45 p.m. since there was no sign of the LTTE ceasing their artillery attacks," Major Rajapakse said.

Fighting was continuing at the time of this edition going to press. According to civilians in Jaffna, the LTTE has warned the people from Puloli, Eluthumadduval, Kilali, Manthuvil, Varani, Kachchai, Kodikamam and Meesali areas to flee from their villages close to the FDLs in Jaffna.

"This is another attempt by the terrorists to displace the civilians inside the peninsula and to create a situation similar to what they created in Muttur," the Media Centre for National Security said in a statement last night.

Meanwhile, Air Force fighter jets yesterday bombed two identified LTTE targets in the Batticaloa district in support of the ground troops engaged in the operation 'Watershed' to take full control of the Mavilaru area, Major Rajapakse told the Daily News.

Major Rajapakse said the Air Force had taken two LTTE targets which can be considered a threat to the ongoing operation to take full control of the Mavilaru area to ensure an uninterrupted water supply to the people living there.

"The Air Force had taken the targets that cannot be taken by long range artillery of the Security Forces," he added.

A Reuter report filed from Colombo quoting LTTE Peace Secretariat Chief S. Puleedevan in Killinochchi said many of the LTTE cadres had been killed due to the ongoing operation by the Security Forces.

According to Major Rajapakse no casualties were reported from the Security Forces side yesterday, since there were no heavy calibre artillery attacks on the ground troops.

"There were only mortar fire yesterday but no heavy calibre artillery attacks," Major Rajapakse said.

The Army put the death toll of the Security Forces to nine due to artillery and mortar fires of the LTTE on Thursday as five soldiers succumbed to their injuries after being admitted to hospitals.

Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Ajantha Silva told the Daily News that the Air Force took two LTTE targets in Batticaloa yesterday morning and afternoon which were considered as a threat to the ground troops engaged in the Mavilaru operation.

"We are taking all LTTE targets which are going to be a problem for the ongoing operation," he said.

According to military sources from the battle front, ground troops were reportedly further consolidating the Mavilaru area and continuing their operation to take control of the second gate under their control located another one kilo metre ahead.

Security Forces took control over one sluice gate and carried out an air attack to open the other gate located ahead for the ground troops to restore the water supply to more than 15,000 families in Seruwila, Ichalanpattu and Muttur areas on Tuesday night.

SITUATION REPORT - SRI LANKA ON 12.08.2006

Deputy Head of the Government's Peace Secretariat shot in Colombo

Colombo, August 12, 2006, 10.23 p.m.. Suspected Tamil tiger rebels today evening shot the deputy secretary general of the Sri Lankan government's peace secretariat Kethesh Loganatha at Dehiwela. Attempts made by the Lanka Academic to verify Mr. Loganathan's condition was futile, but initial reports claimed that he had died, this is however is yet to be confirmed.

A police officer attached to the Dehiwela police station told the Lanka Academic that he was unable to give exact details about the incident because the team gone to investigate the incident had yet not returned to the station.

Rebels say break Sri Lanka armys northern defences

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said on Saturday they had broken through army defences in the island's far north and were advancing on the government-held Jaffna peninsula, in the fiercest fighting since a 2002 truce.

The Tigers said they had pushed through a no-man's-land that separates rebel and government territory, destroyed army checkpoints on the other side and were advancing along the main A9 arterial road that connects the peninsula to their stronghold.

Aid workers reported pockets of fighting inside government territory near army forward defence lines, and truce monitors had received reports of fighting on beaches near Jaffna. Residents said hundreds were fleeing fishing villages near Jaffna.

The military said it still controlled the whole peninsula and had killed around 100 rebels, but said a few might have got through.

"We have completely destroyed the army checkpoints at the Muhamalai (border) crossing, and we are advancing on Jaffna," a Tiger official at the rebel Voice of Tigers radio station told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Tamil rebels push to recapture Sri Lanka 's Jaffna Peninsula

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Tamil Tiger rebels mounted a fierce offensive Saturday to retake Sri Lanka - 's northern Jaffna Peninsula, the heart of the island's Tamil minority, the military and rebels said, amid the heaviest fighting since the two sides signed a 2002 cease-fire. Meanwhile, a senior peace co-ordinating official of Sri Lanka - 's government was shot dead Saturday in a suburb of the capital, Colombo, police and a doctor said.

Ketheesh Loganathan, deputy head of the government's Peace Secretariat, which has coordinated a Norway-brokered peace process between the government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels since 2002, was shot at his home, police officer N.K. Illangakoon said.

Dr. W.G Gunawardene confirmed that Loganathan had died. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the killing or the motive.

Loganathan was formally a political adviser to the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, a former militant separatist group that fought to create a separate homeland for the country's ethnic minority Tamils.

EPRLF gave up arms in 1987 and has since opposed policies of the Tigers.

Saturday's fighting began early in the morning, when the rebels launched attacks against navy camps in the town of Trincomalee, and later pushed against government forces in Muhamalai and elsewhere, Jayawardana said.

A pro-rebel Web site, TamilNet, said the insurgents had overrun an army checkpoint at the village along the dividing line, but a statement from the defense ministry said soldiers had beaten them back, and that government forces were in ``firm and full control over the peninsula.''

The Jaffna Peninsula is considered the traditional home of Sri Lanka - 's 3.2 million ethnic Tamils. Most of the peninsula, including Jaffna city, is controlled by the government, but the rebels control a number of scattered areas.

It was the scene of intense fighting during Sri Lanka - 's two decade-long civil war, with control changing sides a couple times before ending up in government hands after a military offensive in 1995.

The main navy base in Trincomalee is a key supply point for the 40,000 Sri Lankan troops stationed on the peninsula.

The region around the fighting has been sealed off to outsiders, and there was no way to independently confirm the situation.

An ethnic Tamil lawmaker, meanwhile, said civilians in parts of the peninsula were trapped by heavy fighting, and are without electricity and telephones.

``People are not allowed to move to save their lives. The Sri Lankan government, by imposing a curfew, has kept them as human shields,'' said Nadaraja Raviraj, a lawmaker from Jaffna.

There was no immediate comment from the government.

The 2002 cease-fire was intended to halt more than two decades of bloodshed between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for ethnic Tamils in the north and east of the country.

While the cease-fire remains officially in effect, it has been left in shreds by weeks of fighting.

The latest conflict started when the rebels blocked the flow of water from a reservoir to government-held villages in the northeast on July 20, accusing officials of backtracking on a pledge to boost water to rebel-held areas. After days of fighting the sluice was reopened, with both sides claiming credit for ending the water crisis.

Sri Lankan rebels suffer massive loss: More than 100 Tigers killed overnight

Colombo, August 12, 2006, 7.10 p.m.. The LTTE has suffered a massive loss due to yesterday's fighting that erupted in Jaffna, with the organization reportedly losing more than 100 tiger rebels.

The media centre for national security said that, "tiger terrorists in their attempts to disrupt the Security Forces defences in Jaffna peninsula experienced humiliation when they suffered heavy casualties on the face of the Security Forces' retaliations."

Terrorists tried to attack the Forward Defence Lines (FDL) at Muhammalai and the defences at Kayts last evening and during the early hours of today by using heavy artillery and mortars with the intention of capturing the government controlled territory.

However during the battles at Muhammalai tigers suffered 30-35 cadres killed of whom some bodies are still lying in front of the FDLs. The government Air Strikes and the Multi Barrel Artillery attacks is estimated to have killed over 54 cadres who were kept as reserves at Poonarin. While another 20-25 sea tigers were killed at Kayts.

"Security Forces are at present consolidating their defences and conducting cordon and search operations to find and destroy any terrorists in the vicinity," the centre added. During the defensive operations the Security Forces had 36 soldiers injured of whom 7 were in critical conditions.

MUSLIM PARTIES’ PROTEST DEMO Today

A massive protest demonstration, sponsored by the Muslim United Liberation Front (MULF) and participated by all major Muslim political parties and organizations, is to be held tomorrow August 11 in front of the Dematagaha Jumma Masjid near the Colombo Town Hall to condemn to condemn LTTE war crime that has left over 40,000 Muslims of Muttur and over 15,000 of Thoppur as displaced refugees while also massacring over 100 of them. At this protest demonstration to be held at 1:00 p.m. after Jumma Prayers the government's failure to protect the innocent civilians will also be condemned at this demonstration, according to a media release issued by the MULF. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress national leader Rauff Hakeem MP and representatives of the MULF, United Socialist Party, All University Muslim Students' Federation, All Ceylon Muslim League Youth Front, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Sharia Board, Board of Tharikkas, YMMA national Council, Friends of Free Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Movement, Kashmir Solidarity Movement and Young Lawyers' Association will join the protest demonstration.

50,000 LANGUISHING IN KANTALAI- HAKEEM TELLS PARLIAMENT

Sri Lanka Muslim Congrss (SLMC) national leader Rauff Hakeem MP,speaking in parliament on Tuesday, August 8, on the current calamity of the displaced Muslim of the war ravaged Muttur town in Trincomalee said that over 50,000 people from areas in and around Mutur have fled to Kantalai and are now languishing in a deplorable condition. He said that more refugees were pouring in from there into many areas in Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruxva districts. Colombo and Kandy districts too have begun to receive small numbers of these unfortunate victims of war. Thousands of unfortunate victims of the Mutur eviction are recounting their harrowing experiences at the hands of the LTTE and the deliberate unceasing artillery and mortar attacks from security forces' camps, with the objective of flushing out the LTTE, despite calls to suspend this mode of attack and, unfortunately, this had resulted in scores of people dying, he said. He said that all of us are aware that in war the first casualty is truth.

Vivid details of the atrocious and inhuman treatment meted out to the fleeing civilian population by LTTE cadres, in the vicinity of Pachchanoor on the Mutur - Kantalai road. starkly exposed the LTTE's brutality, he said. The thousands of civilians who left Mutur on an assurance by the LTTE that no harm would be caused to them if they chose to leave were subjected to such harassment and cruelty resulting in the Muslims realizing that as in instances before, the LTTE's assurances could not be taken for granted, he further said.

He stated that ever since the invasion of Mutur by the LTTE, his appeals and statements have unfortunately been the subject of critical retort by some elements in the government, adding that in some print media and websites supportive of the LTTE, including the Tamil net, his statements were taken out of context and portions of the statements have been used to give the impression that he had attributed disproportionate blame on the government forces. There, armed cadres of the LTTE separated the young and able bodied men from the women, the children and the elderly and some of the cadres were seen beating the women, the children and the elderly who chose to plead on behalf of the detained men, he said. An artillery attack which targeted this checkpoint, according to scores of eyewitnesses resulted in the death of some civilians as well as a few LTTE cadres. In the ensuing confusion many civilians managed to escape from the LTTE cadres and reach Kantalai after trekking for many hours through inhospitable terrain, he also said.

Speaking further, he said that:

" The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress as a Party that has received preponderant mandate repeatedly from the Muslims is duty bound to bring to the attention of this august assembly and place on record the grave injustice caused to the innocent civilian population of Muttur and the surrounding villages as a result of the recent military engagement between the LITE and the Government of Sri Lanka that was aimed at gaining control of territory.

" The GoSL whilst claiming that their offensive was to ensure the security of the State and the LTTE the areas under their control have continued with absolute impunity to desecrate the human security of the innocent civilian population caught up in the cross fire.

" All of us are aware that in war the first casualty is truth. Unfortunately this has resulted in scores of people dying and the constructive expulsion of Muslims caused by the LTTE's surprise attack.

" The LTTE claims that they had withdrawn their forces to pre CFA positions after having achieved the limited objective of attacking selected targets of the Sri Lankan forces From the morning of 4th August, thousands of fleeing civilians, including children, pregnant mothers and the elderly who have been subjected to virtual starvation for over forty eight hours, as a result of incessant attacks on Mutur both by the government forces and the LTTE, were forcibly diverted to Kiranthimunai, off the 64th milepost on the Mutur - Kantalai road.

" Quite paradoxically the government stated that they are resorting to a limited offensive operation on humanitarian grounds to help the farmers who were served by the Mawilaru anicut, the sluice gates of which were forcibly closed by the LTTE. Similarly the LTTE in its statement announcing the withdrawal of their forces to pre-CFA positions all over the Trincomalee district also stated that they are doing so, in consideration of the humanitarian crisis.

"On Sunday 6th, we heard of the offer by the LTTE to voluntarily open the sluice gates of Mawil Aru provided the government agrees to certain conditions.

"All the peace loving people of Sri Lanka have come to realize that both the government and the LTTE continue to make sanctimonious pronouncements supposedly with the objective of respecting the humanitarian needs of the people. In real terms their motive is to pursue a relentless military option totally disregarding the sanctity of life and limb of innocent civilians. The destruction caused to property and other economic assets of the innocent Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala people of this area is incalculable. The psychological trauma experienced by these people is going to leave an indelible impact on their psyche for years to come. The cost of the ammunition, the bombs and all the military hardware that are employed and estroyed by both sides to this conflict could have fed the affected farmers of Mawil Aru and all the other victims who have been forced to leave their homes indefinitely.

" In terms of the CFA it is the GoSL that is responsible for the protection of human security particularly in government controlled areas. The events that unfolded in the recent past reiterates the SLMC's repeated call that the CFA must be reviewed and strengthened to address the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders and every possible step taken to protect and ensure security of the civilian population at all times.

" It is also our considered view that these incidents cannot be seen in isolation but need to viewed together with the events of the recent past, including the notices that were distributed in Muttur area calling the Muslims to vacate the areas. It is also pertinent to analyse as to whether the GoSL has unwittingly been lured into a trap, where it could easily be accused of triggering the exodus of the people of Muttur or have the radical elements clamoring for war as the solution to the ethnic problem skillfully achieved their objective of pitting the Muslims against the Tamils.

" It is also our reiterated position mat as a responsible political party we are committed to finding a lasting, durable and dignified peace that would be acceptable to all communities through negotiations. It is in this backdrop that we would find it difficult to endorse indiscriminate violations of the CFA that has resulted in forced eviction of Muslims from the areas of their traditional habitation and systematic destruction of the political and economic power of the Muslims of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. "

Situation Report - Sri Lanka

Troops feared dead as S.Lanka ammo dump explodes

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Many troops battling Tamil Tiger rebels in east Sri Lanka were feared dead or wounded on Thursday after an ammunition dump at an army camp apparently accidentally exploded, military sources said.

"We fired artillery all day. Maybe one of the guns overheated and accidentally blew up," said one source. "The dump exploded. We expect lots of casualties and deaths."

Reuters correspondents in the eastern town of Trincomalee heard sustained explosions coming from the camp about 30 km (20 miles) away, which lit up the night sky on the horizon.

The army said the explosion appeared to be accidental, but had no details on the damage caused. Hospital officials at the nearby government-held town of Kantale sent four ambulances to the area as a precaution.

Heavy clashes erupt at Mavil Aru

Heavy fighting was reported between Sri Lanka's security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels early morning today (10), after Tiger cadres attempted to fire showers of mortars at troops facilitating the supply of water through the Mavil Aru Anicut, which was reopened only yesterday.

Troops retaliated with mortars. Security Forces suffered few injuries and the wounded were evacuated to Kantale hospital immediately. 'Operation Water shed' continues, the Media Centre for National Security said. No immediate details were available of the LTTE casualties

Minority Rights Group International demands Government and LTTE to make a greater commitment to safeguard minority rights

Sri Lanka's minorities, including its near two million Muslims, have been the worst affected in the recent surge in violence and both the Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil Tiger rebels must make a greater commitment to safeguard minority rights and provide equal access to humanitarian assistance, Minority Rights Group said today.

The London based human rights organisation calls on both the Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil Tiger rebels to urgently stop fighting, strictly observe the cease-fire and ensure the protection of minorities in their areas of control.

"The area where recent fighting has broken out is predominantly Muslim and Tamil and we are concerned at the risk to life, security and property that these minority communities face," says Clive Baldwin, Head of International Advocacy at MRG.

"In most conflicts there are always the forgotten minorities. The most vulnerable at present are probably the Muslims," Baldwin adds.

Muslims form 8 percent of the near 20 million population of Sri Lanka and are the majority community in the town of Muttur, which has been at the centre of recent fighting. Following the attacks Muslims have had to flee to predominantly Sinhalese villages and are being housed in schools and other temporary shelters, with limited facilities. The Sri Lankan Tamils who form the largest minority and are also part of the population of Muttur have reportedly fled to areas under Tamil Tiger control. Several thousand Muslims and Tamils remain trapped in areas where fighting continues.

"The specific needs of the Muslims and Tamils must be taken into consideration. Minority women in camps are likely to be in a particularly vulnerable situation." Baldwin says.

As international agencies warn of a humanitarian crisis, MRG is particularly concerned about the situation of displaced people and the impediments to aid agencies operating in the area.

"In situations of conflict minority communities are often the last to be given access to aid and we hope this will not be the case in Sri Lanka," Baldwin adds.

MRG calls on both the government and Tamil rebels to give international and local aid agencies unimpeded access to the affected areas. The aim should be to facilitate the free return, in safety, of minority communities to their homes as quickly as possible.

MRG also urges the government and LTTE to return to the negotiating process in order to find a permanent solution to the country's conflict. The group says it is critical that when peace talks resume all communities are represented in the process.

Heavy fighting breaks out in Sri Lanka , more than 50 civilians dead, rebels say

The Sri Lankan military attacked Tamil Tiger rebels from land and air Thursday and the rebels retaliated in heavy fighting that killed at least 13 combatants, officials said. A Nordic cease-fire monitor warned the situation was worsening.

A senior rebel official, Seevarathnam Puleedevan, said at least 50 civilians had been killed and 200 injured in the government military operation, but a military spokesman said he was unaware of any civilian casualties.

Puleedevan appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross to help evacuate civilian casualties, saying there weren't enough facilities locally available there to treat them. But ICRC official Davide Vignati said the organization had yet to receive an official request from either side.

At least six government soldiers were killed and 49 wounded and admitted to hospital, a doctor said. A Tiger spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthirayan, said seven rebels had died and 15 others were wounded.

``It is a warlike situation, our forces are retaliating with artillery fire and direct gun fire,'' Ilanthirayan said.

``The situation is worsening,'' said Robert Nilsson, a member of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. ``Hopefully there will be a change of heart, this has already gone too far.''

The fighting centered around a key reservoir and canal in Trincomalee district, which in recent weeks has seen some of the worst fighting since the country's 2002 cease-fire, with estimates of the number of combatants and civilians killed ranging from about 100 to 300.

Dr. B.G.M. Costa, a hospital doctor in Kantale, a town in the area, said the bodies of five soldiers had been brought in and 35 others were wounded. Two with critical injuries were flown to Colombo.

Military spokesman Maj. Upali Rajapakse said he was not aware of any civilian casualties, but said the rebels were ``known for using civilians as human shields and they place their gun positions around civilian villages.''

``The Sri Lankan army does not target civilians,'' he said.

The rebels closed sluice gates at the reservoir on July 20, cutting water to over 60,000 people living in government-controlled villages, after accusing the government of reneging on a pledge to boost water in rebel-held areas.

The rebels announced on Tuesday that they were reopening the gates, saying that heavy attacks on rebel areas by army troops were hurting civilians, and the military said Wednesday that it had reclaimed control of the waterway.

But the government resumed shelling the area around the reservoir the same day, saying it needed to clear the area of rebels so they would not be able to block the water supply again.

``From dawn today, the Sri Lankan army has launched a full-fledged offensive operation against our territories involving thousands of troops, heavy guns and bombardment,'' rebel spokesman Ilanthirayan said.

The Tamil Tigers began fighting in 1983 for a separate homeland for the country's 3.2 million Tamils, accusing the 14 million Sinhalese majority of discrimination.

The 2002 cease-fire put a temporary halt to the bloodshed, but the truce has nearly collapsed in recent months. Renewed fighting has killed more than 900 people _ half of them civilians _ since December, the cease-fire monitors say.

____ Associated Press writer Dilip Ganguly in Colombo contributed to this report.

HAKEEM ACCUES LTTE FOR MUSLIMS' CLAMITY

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem MP who briefed the media just after his meeting this evening (August 8) with a delegation led by Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer said that the delegation was apprised that the LTTE was responsible for the present calamity of the Muslims of Muttur while the government was also responsible for certain aspects of violence including indiscriminate artillery shelling at civilian targets. The delegation was also informed that LTTE invasion of Muttur appeared to be part of their plan of ethnic cleansing, according to reliable information, he said.

He said that other details that were apprised to the delegation with regard to the current tragic condition of the thousands of displaced families included:

" Maximum damage has been done to the Muslim families of Muttur and its neighboring areas in fighting between the government forces and the LTTE. Their houses and properties were devastated and a majority of the displaced the people are now languishing in open air shelters in Kantalai and other places without food, water, medical care and other basic humanitarian assistance. The barbaric attacks that led to their evacuation has deprived them of their source of livelihood and has also affected them psychologically.

"The barbaric LTTE invasion of Muttur has achieved nothing other than leaving innocent Muslims in the lurch as destitute people. It was a senseless act and heartless act perpetrated by them. The right of the displaced families to resettle in their homes in their traditional villages should be asserted by the Norwegians and the international community with arrangements for their rehabilitation and resettlement after assessment of the reasons and the background that led to their expulsion and exodus.

"We have reliable information that the LTTE which set up a check point at the 64th mile post on the Muttu-Kantalai road diverted the fleeing families into routes through areas under their control and detained over 100 Muslim youths in an effort to conscript them into their rebel movement and gunned down several of them. We have requested the SLMM to assist us to retrieve the bodies of those killed for cremation. The little confidence that the Muslim people had bestowed on the LTTE has now been totally shattered. They have also perpetrated other cruelties and atrocities on our people. On the other hand, the government forces had also staged brutal attacks with total disregard for civilian lives.

"We have conveyed our requests to the LTTE on provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected people and we are waiting for their reply.

"The security of the Muslims has now become a major concern. We also held discussions today with President Mahinda Rajapakse on the present calamity of the Muslim people and their immediate humanitarian needs. At the discussion, we also requested for measures to ensure that convoys transporting food and other relief assistance do not become targets of attacks.

"In the light of the events that have occurred we reiterate on the need for incorporating changes to the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). The SLMM should be strengthened not only in numbers but it should be broad-based and more powers should be bestowed on it.

"Braving all adversities and calamities, nearly 5000 Muslim people of Muttur are still continuing to live in their homes."

Key Irrigation Channel Reopened in Sri Lanka

A police patrol on a motorcycle urges a group of farmers on a tractor to clear the area as they pass over a canal near Kallar, in the eastern Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka, Aug. 9, 2006

A police patrol on a motorcycle urges a group of farmers on a tractor to clear the area as they pass over a canal near Kallar, in the eastern Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka, Aug. 9, 2006

An irrigation channel has been reopened in eastern Sri Lanka, after its closure prompted two weeks of fighting between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels. Both sides are taking credit for opening the channel.

Water is again flowing for 60,000 villagers living on government-held land in eastern Sri Lanka.

On a Web site Wednesday, the Tamil Tiger rebels said they re-opened an irrigation channel from a reservoir in rebel territory in response to an appeal by a Norwegian envoy. The rebels had shut off the water nearly three weeks ago

Muslim Aid condemns violence in Sri Lanka, at least 35,000 Muslims reportedly displaced

Muslim Aid, a charitable organisation headquartered in London, today unreservedly condemned the killing of 15 employees of French charity Action Against Hunger (Action Contre Faim) in the strife-torn town of Muttur in Eastern Sri Lanka.

The aid workers, who were from the local, ethnic Tamil community, had been working on post-Asian tsunami relief and reconstruction. While it is unclear who is behind the killings, Muslim Aid is calling on the Sri Lankan government to work towards bringing about an immediate ceasefire in the region.

"We appeal for a cessation of hostilities to allow the civilians to get out of Muttur," said Farooq Murad, chairman of Muslim Aid. "We deplore the loss of innocent civilian lives. We would like to see the situation return to normal, in order to enable displaced people to resettle back in Muttur and restart their lives."

Farooq Murad added that it is also very worrying to see that NGO workers are now being targeted, which makes working within the field even more challenging.

More than 60,000 people have died in the decades-old conflict between the Sri Lankan government and rebel forces such as the Tamil Tigers.

Muslim Aid has built 130 homes, community centres, medical clinic and rehabilitation centres for tsunami victims in Batticaloa. Muslim Aid has also implemented water supply projects in eastern Sri Lanka that have gone a long way towards helping survivors of the tsunami to get back on their feet.

In Nilaveli, Muslim Aid replaced the water pumps destroyed by the tsunami, assisting 167 families. In addition, working with the Sri Lanka-based Al-Husna Foundation, Muslim Aid trucked water to the villagers of Muttur.

In recent months, the deteriorating situation has been of increasing concern to Muslim Aid, who is calling on the government of Sri Lanka to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of all its citizens. On Friday, residents of Muttur and surrounding villages have started fleeing the violence, and Muslim Aid has identified an immediate need for funds to aid in the resettlement of these refugees.

"There has been an initial displacement of at least 25,000 people from the town of Mutur," said Amjad Mohamed-Saleem, country director of Muslim Aid Sri Lanka. "The latest reports are that as many as 35,000 people could have been affected. Muslim Aid, in conjunction with other international NGOs, and relief agencies, are operating in tandem to assist these refugees."

Muslim Aid is currently one of the leading agencies coordinating the relief effort, with local and international organisations and the government, particularly for non-food items. Along with the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR), Muslim Aid is one of the few international agencies with staff on the ground.

Muslim Aid is managing and supervising 11 out of the 23 camps in the region.

TamilNet Reports Sinhalese People Seek Evacuation

The TamilNet website has reported that Sinhala families of Somapura of Trincomalee where the government forces and the LTTE are engaged in a fierce battle have sought to be evacuated claiming that their lives are in danger.

Extracts of the report are reproduced below:

Thousands of Sinhalese settlers from the southern sectors of Trincomalee district have demanded safe evacuation from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas, civil sources in Somapura said. The local authorities have contacted the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to facilitate evacuation from the southern sector where the SLA offensive towards Mavil Aaru was launched. Meanwhile, initial reports reaching from Kiliveddy said Muttur civilians, carrying white flags, have started to reach Kiliveddy area. However, the ICRC coordinator, Davide Vignati, in Colombo has told media that a formal cessation of hostilities for a limited time frame is yet to be established.

6700 families have already left their houses in Muttur, according to the ICRC.

The ICRC has sought assistance from other NGOs in the region to facilitate transportation of civilians towards remote areas.

The Sinhala settlers gathered at Ali Oluva junction Friday morning demanded immediate transportation. This has prompted the local authorities in turn to contact the ICRC to arrange vehicles for transportation, according to local sources in Somapura

BREAKING NEWS - MUTUR

Thousands flee fighting in northeastern Sri Lanka

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka - (AP) Thousands of civilians were trying to escape fighting in Sri Lanka - 's northeast on Friday, with the most desperate among them walking through forests to find a safe haven, a Red Cross official said. A convoy had been dispatched to try to get to the refugees, said ICRC's Sri Lanka - chief, Toon Vandenhove.

The area is particularly dangerous and largely off-limits because of the fighting. Muttur, a government-controlled town edged by rebel-held villages and jungle, is located on a small peninsula, and travelers must cross several ferries or take land routes that are often helled.

But the rebels said they were arranging for safe passage for the refugees.

``We are making necessary arrangements to move civilians from Muttur to safer locations,'' the pro-rebel Web-site TamilNet quoted Irasiah Ilanthirayan, the rebels' military spokesman, as saying. It was not clear what arrangements they were making.

Sri Lanka - already has an estimated 800,000 internally displaced refugees as a result of the two-decade civil war between the government and rebels, who took up arms in 1983 over discrimination against Sri Lanka - 's 3.2 million minority Tamils by the country's Sinhalese majority. The Tigers say they are fighting for a Tamil homeland.

The war killed about 65,000 people before the Norwegian-brokered a cease-fire in 2002, which left parts of the north and east under rebel control.

While the agreement officially remains in effect, escalating violence since December has killed at least 900 people, half of them civilians.

Over the past few weeks, the violence has spiked even further, and the latest fighting in and around Trincomalee was sparked by the rebels' decision to cut off water supplies from a reservoir to government-held villages in the northeast. The military responded with airstrikes and a ground assault.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from Friday's shelling in Muttur. The rebels and government forces have blamed each other for artillery attacks Thursday on three schools that killed 18 residents sheltering there.

Also Friday, a Tamil playwright who wrote and directed dramas that extolled Tamil history and culture was fatally shot in the northern port of Jaffna, police said.

In Vavuniya, also in northern Sri Lanka - , a roadside bomb planted by suspected rebels wounded three policemen, and a rebel was killed when security forces responded to the blast, military officer Col. Ravipriya de Silva said.

Both Jaffna and Vavuniya are under government control, but lie close to rebel territory.

In another attack Friday, a breakaway rebel faction killed five mainstream guerrillas in the eastern town of Batticaloa, said T. Thuyavan, a spokesman for the renegades.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed serious concern over the escalating violence, and has called on the parties to stop fighting.

The Tigers, meanwhile, were preparing to hand over, through the Red Cross, the bodies of about 40 Sri Lankan soldiers killed in the Muttur fighting, the pro-rebel TamilNet Web site quoted rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan as saying.

The government has acknowledged the death of just eight of its soldiers in Muttur.

AP reporters Vincent Jeyan in Jaffna, Dilip Ganguly, Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka - , contributed to this report.

Sri Lanka fighting claims more lives

More civilians have been killed in clashes between Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan army bringing the death toll to 28 over the last two days, miltary officials have said.

Five more civilians and two soldiers were killed on Friday in artillery fire in the northeastern town of Muttur.

While shelling continued, thousands of Muslims have been fleeing the city of Muttur, south of the port city of Trincomalee, a Tamil stronghold, since fighting broke out last Wednesday.

"We just got information that they have started moving. According to information in Mutur, everyone will leave - that's 6,000-7,000 families," said Yvonne Dunton, head of the Trincomalee office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Five more Muslim Civilians Killed

Five Muslim civilians were killed in artillery fire that hit a school in Muttur town. The civilian victims were about to leave the school when artillery shells began hitting civilian areas, according to civilians who have fled the area. 22 civilians were killed Thursday in indiscrimate artillery fire. (Courtesy : TamilNet)

MUTTUR MUSLIMS IN GRAVE CRISIS,OVER 40 KILLED-HAKEEM

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) national leader Rauff Hakeem MP apprising the media today (Wednesday) on the civilian crisis that has emerged due to continuing Government-LTTE fighting in Muttur, Trincomalee said that food, water, medial care and other humanitarian assistance were not reaching the people and they are in a desperate condition. He said that over 40 Muslim civilians of the pre-dominantly Muslim town were killed and over one hundred people were seriously wounded in artillery shelling and crossfire in fighting during the last three days. Muslims people who were feeling on foot via Kantalai and Palathoppu had also come under artillery shelling this afternoon at an LTTE check points and to make things worse the LTTE had already detained over a 100 Muslims for reasons unknown, he disclosed.

An assurance was given to the SLMC at a meeting yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat attended by Presidential Advisor Gothabaya Rajapakse and army chiefs that artillery shelling and hostilities would be suspended for enabling humanitarian assistance to reach the affected people but this assurance was not honored and the shelling were continuing, the SLMC leader said. When artillery shelling staged from army camps hit an LTTE check point where fleeing Muslims were being checked, five Muslim civilians were killed on spot and several others were wounded this afternoon, he disclosed. At these check point the LTTE was detaining certain Muslim civilians for unknown reasons, he said. Hakeem said that no measures whatsoever were being taken to evacuate the affected people or to provide them food, medical care and other humanitarian assistance. Even artillery shelling were staged at a building where the affected people had taken shelter, he said. According to the affected people, the artillery shelling in all cases were staged from SL army camps, he said.

He said that they were earnestly appealing to both the Government forces and the LTTE to enforce a temporary cessation of hostilities by way of a respite for food, drinking water, medical care and other humanitarian assistance to reach the affected people. The LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi was contacted through the Norwegian Ambassador and they showed the green light for humanitarian assistance to reach the affected areas under the escort of the ICRC and consequently the ICRC proceed with convoys of relief, including 03 buses and two ambulances yesterday but they were not allowed to proceed beyond a point in Kantalai. The ICRC would again try to convince the authorities concerned on the immediate need to proceed to the affected areas, he said.

The SLMC was in constant touch with the government authorities, the Norwegian Embassy, the ICRC, and SLMM on arrangements for providing humanitarian assistance to the affected people, he said. They were also in touch with the local political, social and religious leaders of the affected areas to get information on the latest situation and were closely monitoring the situation, he said. The SLMC itself was organizing dispatch of relief assistance which it would dispatch as soon as possible, he said.

The SLMC leader said that their party was meeting foreign diplomats in Colombo to persuade them to exert diplomatic pressure on both the Government and the LTTE for a temporary Cessation of Hostilities. They are meeting Indian High Commissioner Ms Nirupama Rao this evening at 6:30 p.m., he said adding that they would be meeting other diplomats in the next few days. The SLMC would take up this issue at the All Party Conference as well in the parliament at a special adjournment debate, he said. They would also meet co-chairs of the donor countries and the Organization of Islamic Countries to persuade them to exert pressure on the warring sides