Sri Lanka: Army steps up attack

The article below is abridged from Tamilnet.

The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) stepped up artillery, mortar and multi-barrel rocket launcher fire on Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal on May 1, causing panic among civilians in a heavily congested village.

Many civilians were killed as the shelling, which began at 9.30am, continued throughout the evening. Medical staff at the makeshift hospital were only able to report the deaths of those who succumbed to the injuries.

By 4.30pm, wounded civilians were admitted to Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal hospital, which came under attack over the previous two days. Twenty-seven of the wounded succumbed to their injuries.

Many more, killed in the SLA barrage, were buried or burnt by family.

On April 30, about 200 civilians were rushed to the hospital and 39 later died.

Heavy exchange of gunfire and an intense barrage was reported north of Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal, where civilians were still seen fleeing towards the congested southern parts of the village within the so-called safety-zone.

Civilians were confined to bunkers most of the night and day on May 1. Many were killed while they slept, medical sources said.

Meanwhile, starvation prevails in the area as Colombo has deliberately limited humanitarian supplies for weeks.

From GLW issue 793