The human tragedy caused by the military agenda by President Rajapakse ‘s government under the pretext of saving the east from the clutches of the LTTE is indescribable.

Tamil people have fled from their homes, from their traditional homelands, fearing cruel shell attacks, terrible mortar attacks and atrocious air strikes. They are now a displaced people.

60, 000 persons belonging to 42,000 families are now internally displaced people in the Batticaloa district alone. They find shelter in 90 refugee camps.

Out of these unfortunate ones, 22,000 are children who have been denied schooling.

116 schools have been closed following military measures of the government in Batticalo district alone. Most of the schools are occupied by refugees.

More than a 1000 children are in the pitiable plight of having lost at least one of their parents.

467 children are separated from both parents.

These statistics of the plight of Batticaloa refugees are shocking. The younger generation has lost its opportunity for education. Their future is bleak.

What is more, it is reported that the displaced people in refugee camps are unable to live peacefully without fear since they are harassed by the security forces. S.Jayanantha Moorthy, TNA Batticaloa Parliament states that the refugees are arrested, detained and harassed by security forces.

Colombo has unleashed military operations on the LTTE without any consideration for the suffering of the innocent Tamil civilians. Tamils are made to feel that the government doesn’t show any concern for them and to solve their problems and that the south is only interested in securing and maintaining its sovereignty. Tamils are made to feel that they have to find their own security.

An English translation of the Editorial in Sudar Oli, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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