Civilians flee Sri Lanka's conflict zone
Updated
Sri lanka's Tamil Tiger's have been given 24 hours to surrender by the Sri Lankan government.
The government issued the deadline after more than 35 thousand civilians fled the last area under Tamil Tiger control.
Presenter: Sonja Heydeman
Speakers: Dr Victor Raja Kulendran, Secretary of the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations; Jeevan Thiagarajah, Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies Executive Director
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SONJA HEYDEMAN: Showing aerial video from a military spy plane over the tiny area where the Tigers are staging a last stand the Sri Lankan President said 35,000 non-combatants had crossed the lines into government-held territory. The government has accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam of using trapped civilians as human shields. The President suggested that their escape removed a final obstacle to an all-out military assault. Secretary of the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations Dr Victor Raja Kulendran says he's not fazed by the call to surrender.
VICTOR RAJA KULENDRAN: So this surrendering call always comes from President to show the Sinhalese electorate that he is winning the war. According to Tigers the surrender is not in their vocabulary so Tigers will never surrender. Even today the Tigers have released a statement appreciating what the US said and they have given a warning to the Sri Lankan Government that the life is not going to be easy even if they are defeated in this battle so they will fight until they die maybe.
SONJA HEYDEMAN: Dr Victor Raja Kulendran says the international community will continue to apply pressure on the Sri Lankan Government and protest action will be ongoing.
DR KULENDRAN: It will have to happen continuously until there is a solution to this problem so we will always pressurise the Australian Government through protest. Protest can be in various forms, you know - fasting happened last week so it may not happen again but it will be in different forms.
SONJA HEYDEMAN: The Sri Lankan-based Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies late yesterday held a meeting involving the United Nations and other aid groups to discuss the potential aid needs. Jeevan Thiagarajah, the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies' executive director, has confirmed that civilians have been fleeing the conflict zone.
JEEVAN THIAGARAJAH: The information that significant numbers have come out due to the last exchange is confirmed. The numbers need to be more accurate, I think.
SONJA HEYDEMAN: Mr Thiagarajah says aid supplies on the ground will be critical.
JEEVAN THIAGARAJAH: For the time being we are catering to about 65,000 people and about 5,500 injured and the couple of thousand that have come in today would really add to the numbers considerably.
