LTTE attacks Muttur. Fighting displaces thousands of Muslims. The military later claim that they re-established control over a northeastern town that had been the scene of fierce clashes in recent days, and urged the thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting to return. Defence Ministry also claims that the LTTE killed 100 fleeing civilians.
Sources
Thousands of Muslims flee fierce fighting in Sri Lanka, The Independent, 5 August 2006; Soldiers seize town captured by LTTE, Times of India, 6 August 2007; Sri Lanka says Tigers killed 100 civilians as fighting subsides, AFP, 5 August 2006.
Quotations
“We still have no access to the area and therefore we can’t say anything about these reports [of the massacre and other civilian casualties],” Sukumar Rockwood, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“Many walked for miles through minefields and jungle to escape the fighting, abandoning their homes to the fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels. They had to brave rockets and mortar fire while carrying their children and a few possessions with them. At least five were killed when they were hit by artillery fire, according to a local political party,” The Independent, 5 August 2006.
“Sri Lankan soldiers on Saturday said they re-established control over a northeastern town that had been the scene of fierce clashes in recent days, and urged the thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting to return. The rebels, however, did not admit defeat, claiming instead that they withdrew from Muttur – a government-controlled town under the terms of a 2002 cease-fire – after accomplishing their objectives,” Times of India, 6 August 2007.
Related events
6 November 2006
