Sri Lanka accused of shelling 'safe zone' in north

[bemildred]

Source: AP

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The Sri Lankan military shelled a village and a makeshift hospital inside a government-declared "safe zone" for civilians in the north Thursday, killing at least 30 people and injuring scores of others, local health officials and a rebel-linked Web site said.

The military denied hitting the hospital and said it was taking precautions to protect civilians. The TamilNet Web site said at least 66 civilians had been killed by government shelling since Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the military announced the capture of a building the rebels had used as their main operations center in their fight against the advancing army.

With the government's offensive against the Tamil Tigers escalating, international aid groups are increasingly concerned about the safety of the hundreds of thousands of civilians reportedly living inside the shrinking pocket of rebel-held territory in the northeast.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gVoaDFmbCYS-Usz9ACDRIengj21QD95S76080

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Monkey see, monkey do.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. At least 5 civilians killed

At least five civilians have died after a makeshift hospital was shelled in a rebel-held area of northern Sri Lanka, health officials there say.

Pro-rebel websites blame the army for the deaths, but the military has strongly denied being responsible.

There is no way to confirm any of the claims as independent journalists are barred from the conflict zone.
...
The UN has criticised the Tigers for not allowing safe passage to its workers in areas the rebels control.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7845311.stm

Yep, another killing zone. Which international pressure will be able to do fuck all about.

[bemildred]

3. Fuck all indeed. nt

[Coventina]

2. This is one of the most under-reported stories in the world.

Meaning, the Sri Lankan civil war in general, not necessarily this particular incident.

I'm guilty of it myself, and I make a point of posting Asia-related stories.