BROTHERS Sajeevan (13) and Sujeeva (11) are lucky children. They were able to escape LTTE atrocities and reach the Government administered area on board ICRC chartered vessel with other fortunate evacuees.

Sajeevan and Sujeeva travelled along with other 521 civilians leaving their parents and elder sister. "My parents didn't get a pass to accompany us. We were living in a bunker hiding from the LTTE. They asked my father to work for them. The LTTE threatened people either to work for them and if they refused they were punished," Sajeevan told the Daily News.

From right: Sajeevan and Sujeeva waiting to get registered at the Navy Pulmudai point after they arrived on board the Green Ocean from the NFZ. Picture by Samantha Weerasiri
 
Sajeevan's 20-year-old sister is under pressure and threatened by the LTTE to join their fighting cadres. "They forced my sister to join the fighting cadres. Since she did not join, she was under LTTE threat and now she has gone into hiding," he said.

Sajeevan stopped going to school from last January. "We were living in Murukandi in Mullaitivu. After the latest conflict, we moved to Sudhanthirapuram and to Mullivaikkal without taking our belongings. My other sister is in Batticaloa with our relatives. My hope is to reach Mannar and join my uncle's family until my parents return safe," Sajeevan said.

He said there are a large number of civilians suffering without food and other needs. The food and other items arriving to the NFZ are grabbed by the LTTE. "We had only rice and dhal for our daily meals. Human suffering is increasing daily under the LTTE," Sajeevan told the Daily News.

The Navy evacuated the 27th batch of the 521 wounded and sick civilians accompanied by their relatives from the No Fire Zone to Pulmudai on board the ICRC chartered vessel Green Ocean on Wednesday.

The Navy brought the civilians to the Pulmudai shore. The civilians were screened and given a medical checkup by Naval medics before being sent to Pulmudai hospital for medical treatment.

Pulmudai NOIC Captain Samantha Wimalatunga said following treatment in hospitals, civilians were settled in IDP welfare centres. Later, youth will be provided vocational training and rehabilitated as part of the Government's humanitarian mission.

"It is a systematic process coordinated with agencies and Government stakeholders. Soon the Green Ocean vessel will be anchored on the shores of Pulmudai, and the Navy will bring more civilians and after the medical check up, the sick will be transferred to the Pulmudai temporary hospital established by Indian doctors. Following the treatment, displaced civilians will be settled at the IDP centre," he added.

Captain Wimalatunga noted that if a critically injured civilian dies while being evacuated on the vessel Green Ocean, a medical officer of Kebithigollawa will conduct the postmortem.

The LTTE continues forceful recruitment and atrocities on civilians in the No Fire Zone. At least a member from each family including children are compelled to join combat operations against Security Forces, children fleeing Puthumathalan told the Daily News. (courtesy : Daily News)