Sri Lanka health official: 257 civilians killed ( due to Lankan Military artillery barrage)

[Vehl]

Source: Associated Press

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A government health official says at least 257 civilians have been killed and 814 wounded in a massive artillery barrage fired by Sri Lankan forces into the northern war zone.

The military denies launching the attack, saying it was only using small arms in its effort to wipe out the rebel group.

Physician V. Shanmugarajah says it is feared that many more are dead and already buried by relatives in the attack that began late Saturday and lasted until early Sunday.

The doctor who works in the war zone called the situation "overwhelming."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090510/ap_on_re_as/as_sri_lanka_civil_war

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At least 257 civilians killed and 814 injured in just one day's worth of artillery barrage by the lankan military....

As usual; the military denies this. These denials however were proven to be false when the UN satellite images showing signs of heavy bombing/shelling (by the srilankan military) of the so called "safe heaven for refugees" were leaked to the press.

the satellite images, and the news article can be found here
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6201379.ece



Furthermore; on a related news, Journalists/news crew working for A British Channel 4 News team has been arrested in Sri Lanka after reporting allegations of abuse in camps for displaced Tamils, the broadcaster said.



The Sri Lankan Defence Minister ordered Asia correspondent Nick Paton-Walsh, cameraman Matt Jasper and producer Bessie Du to leave the country.

The report contained claims that dead bodies were left where they fell and allegations of sexual abuse.

The Sri Lankan government has denied the allegations in Tuesday's report.
Mr Paton-Walsh said the crew was being driven to Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, with a police escort.



The government does not allow any foreign news media to interview people or even visit the affecteds regions because it fears its human rights abuses would be brought to light. The srilankan president faces genocide charges filed against him the Us courts (he is a dual lankan, Us citizen)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8042170.stm

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Now up to 378 killed, 1,122 injured

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8042341.stm

[Vehl]

2. yep, its sickening :( Im yet to see international Condemnation.

Here is a report by Human Rights Watch


Sri Lanka: Repeated Shelling of Hospitals Evidence of War Crimes
30 Attacks Reported on Medical Facilities Since December

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/08/sri-lanka-repeated-shelling-hospitals-evidence-war-crimes




No wonder the Srilankan government evicted the British Reporter's after they documented the human rights abuses by the government. Typical of the Despotic government SriLanka is.

[ohio2007]

3. The tigers say the count is 2,000

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3870118

what would they know about that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc6Av6ge4mo&feature=related

[Vehl]

4. either way; the number is at LEAST 378 civlians dead and ~1100 injured; and in one day too

regardless of what the tiger's claim; everyone seems to agree that at least 378 civilians were killed and around 1100 were injured in just one day's worth of arty barrage by the Lankan government.This is one of the biggest civilian massacres in recent history!


and btw; did you read the report by human Rights watch which documents at least 30 attacks by the gov on Hospitals?...and the leaked UN satellite images that showed the claim by the lankan government "we do not bomb/shell the safe zone" to be the lie that it is?



The Liberian president was prosecuted with similar evidence provided by the HRW and Amnesty international, and lets hope the Srilankan President and his commanders would face the same in the International courts for genocide.


The accused have been given enough rope to hang themselves; and they are doing a great job at digging their own(in a legal sense) graves.Arresting journalists, deporting diplomats...calling any foreign country that condemns such human rights abuses as "White terrorists"... Its not too long before the lankan government's bigwigs would be standing trial for genocide.



No wonder the US and UK denied monetary aid to SriLanka in the light of these events.