The continuing violence between LTTE and the Sri Lankan Military has affected the Muslim population in Muttur, a town now occupied by LTTE.

As the latest reports came in, over 41,270 persons have now been displaced from this community and are in camps. Data collected so far show 2828 persons in Trinco Town (6 camps), 19880 persons in Kantale (8 camps), 10292 persons in Seruwila (16 camps), 1678 persons in Kinniya (6 camps) and 6592 people in Thampalagamam (9 camps). There are other people who have left to other districts as well and are uncounted for at this time.

On their way out, many of these people have been harassed, beaten up and their possessions have been taken away. Many are still looking for their missing family members. More than 30 have been killed in the last three days and reports suggest that the Sri Lankan military was mainly responsible for these deaths.

Displaced Muslims of Kantale told that ever since LTTE entered Muttur they were looking for certain individuals.  Some of them said LTTE had a list of names. Few of these supposedly “jihadist” were captured in Muttur.

Then LTTE diverted the fleeing Muslims from the main road (A15) to their controlled area which had a check point established with many carders. There were two masked men who identified young Muslims men and these young men were then taken 200 yards away from rest of the fleeing Muslims with their hands tied. At this point there were about 15,000 Muslims and they were screened one by one by the LTTE. LTTE separated the fleeing families and took the men separately from women and children and many women refused to leave their loved ones and stood there.

While this identification was going on there was some dispute with a detainee and LTTE fired at him. At the moment SL forces fired Multi-barrel Launchers towards this check point that killed around 07 Muslims and injured many. No one knows exactly what happened to the youth who were tied and taken separately by LTTE but one eye-witness says after this attack many of the LTTE members ran away. But SL forces continued to fire Multi-Barrel launchers and women and children started running in different direction and many of them are still searching for their missing family members.

Over 100 Muslims are missing now and many fear that they may be killed at this fatal check point. No one knows exactly whether they would have been killed by LTTE or SL military attack.  

LTTE has to be condemned for this malicious act of stopping and screening many thousand fleeing IDPs. These people were trapped for three days in a war zone and they were fleeing for their life. Separating already traumatized civilians from their families is the worst inhuman act and this is going to further already widen gap between Tamils and Muslims. Under the UN convention of IDPs and Refugees LTTE has committed one of the most brutal war crimes.

Sri Lankan Military has to be severally condemned for using one of the most dangerous war weapons against the Muslim refugees. Apart from lunching Multi-barrels into the above fatal check point, the military also targeted two Muttur schools (Al- Hilal and Arabic College) that were packed with Muslim refugees. Here too they used Multi-Barrel launchers that killed over 36 and injured hundreds. There are 400 people (mostly old ones) still trapped in Muttur - Al- Hilal school.

Meanwhile, a school building that was packed with displaced Muslims from Muttur (Muttur town is now controlled by LTTE) was targeted by artillery. 8 civilians including children were killed in this attack and 50 were wounded. While these injured people needed immediate care there was no way to evacuate them to safety as both warring parties have vowed to continue their fight. Cessation of hostilities, at least for a few hours, would be necessary and there is no sign of this happening.

One volunteer working to provide relief to the displaced people commented:

I cannot see tigers ending fight till Government leaves Mavilaru and troops are sent away from Muthur - Thoppur. For LTTE to stop now would be advantage to Government. Also LTTE want Muttur for strategic reasons – it’s a vantage point to attack Trinco harbour which is only 13 nautical miles.

More importantly Muslims should not leave Muttur except for injured and families. If Muslims leave, they wont be allowed to come back in large numbers in the near future though lip service will be paid by LTTE as in case of Northern Muslims. Whatever the difficulty, Muslims must not leave Muttur I think.

More information updates are also available at http://muthur-ha.blogspot.com/

Meanwhile, another relief worker reported that all the camps are over crowed. Hygiene is the number one priority in all these camps.

Every camp I visited had more children than adult. Drinking water so far is not a problem. Most of these children have not had a bath for the last four/five days and they don’t have change cloth. There is no water resources available closer to the camps and they have to hire three wheelers to get to the near by reservoir which costs them Rs.100. Surrounding areas of camp are so filthy and full of mosquitoes and flies. 

Aysha School had only two toilets up till yesterday for 3,958 people. Now Community Trust Fund is building four more toilets there. All the camps I visited are over crowded, people need to spread-out quickly as possible, otherwise I am afraid that there is going to be a disease outbreak. Already few women complained of children having rashes, dehydration and sore-throat.

I also heard two young Muslim men from one of the camp have been taken by unidentified men in the evening and they received the bodies just now. I just heard a Tamil youth’s body was found closer to where we are. There are lots of sporadic killings of Muslim and Tamil youth in Kandale. I am afraid it can tantamount to an ethic clash.

This is not the first time that the Muslims have got caught in between and paid a heavy toll even though they are not a party this violent conflict however what was disheartening is the meager publicity given on this crisis situation. Even a rally that was to be held was postponed at the last minute.

Meanwhile, both LTTE and the Sri Lankan government continue to play blame games using the national and international media. With the international community unwilling to intercede in any sustained manner, the Norwegian peacemakers presenting an unclear strategy for peace and the local groups focused on their narrow gains, a once possible peace seems to have slipped away.