INDICTMENT AGAINST SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka's Genocidal War - '95 to '01

Indiscriminate artillery shelling of Tamil villages: September 1996 - February 1997

"Several civilians have been killed or wounded by Sri Lankan army shell fire inUruthirapuram, Killinochchi. The bodies have not been removed for cremations as the army shells are continuing to rain down onUruthirapuram. Many dead bodies are lying there unattended. One elderly couple who were killed in the shelling has beenidentified. The couple Ponnampalam, 70, and his wife Saraswathy Thevi, 60, had been killed instantly when mortar shells firedby the Sri Lankan armed forces exploded in their house at 8th Canal, Uruthirapuram." - Tamilnet News Report,27 September 1996

"Kfir bombers have pounded Tamil areas in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi district almost every morning at 8am. The raids areinvariably targeted near residential places and yesterday the Sri Lankan airforce blasted 4th Mile Post and Suthanthirapuram.Meanwhile, in Mullaitivu, six bombs were dropped which created havoc and panic as they caused massive craters in the ground, smashed houses and flung trees over 400 yards away. Three Tamil people are now in hospital fighting for their livesfollowing the assault. They are: mother of five, Suppiah Suppamma (47); father of three, Ramiah Alagamuthu (45); and his son, Sivarasa. - Tamilnet News Report, 22 November 1996

"Yesterday, an old Tamil civilian was killed and six others were critically injured by shelling fired from the military camps inVavuniya, Killinochchi and Elephant Pass targetting Tamil villages. The long range artillery pieces fired from the Vavuniyamilitary base into the Tamil villages of Villakuachakulam and Omanthai have caused extensive damage to civilian life there." -Tamilnet News Report, 27 November 1996

"Non-stop shelling by the Sri Lankan army woke Tamil residents of Omanthai in panic at 5 am yesterday morning. The artillery fire came from army positions at Thandikulam and, as usual in such attacks, the shelling was totally random. Villagers ran for cover but there are thought to be casualties although the number remains as yet unknown.Indiscriminate firing on Tamil residential areas has been a long-running measure used by Sinhala armed forces to try and break the will-power of Tamils living in unoccupied areas. - Tamilnet News Report, 11 December 1996

"Many Tamil school children in Kilinochchi are reduced to taking classes outside because Sri Lanka has bombed 24 schools in the district. The buildings were demolished during successive long-range artillery raids in which the army typically made no attempt to safeguard civilian centres. Along with the buildings most of the furniture such as desks and chairs have also been destroyed. Most of the remaining school buildings in Kilinochchi are also unavailable because they have had to be turned into shelters to house Tamils displaced by Sri Lanka's military incursions into parts of Kilinochchi. UNICEF has so far provided Rs. 24 lakhs to put up 16 temporary sheds to be used as schools." - Tamilnet News Report, 3 February 1997

see also Sri Lanka army launches intensified artillery attack on densley populated Tamil village
see also Army fired indiscriminately into Tamil village says Amnesty

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