Tag Archives: tamil

Thousands of Civilians Escape as Sri Lanka Corners the Tamil Tigers

Sri Lankan military authorities predicted a swift end to the country’s 25-year civil war after tens of thousands of civilians who had been trapped in a narrow combat zone in the country’s north for over two months escaped the iron grip of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on April 20. But more fighting is in store before that end can be reached. It will take weeks, if not longer, to capture or kill the over 500 hardcore Tigers — including leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who is holed up deep inside the zone — ready to fight to the death

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Tamil rebels ready for cease-fire

Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka were ready to accept international calls for a cease-fire but won’t lay down their weapons without a political solution in the quarter-century-long civil war, according to a letter released by the group. But no cease-fire offer is being offered as government troops press their offensive against Tamil forces and their remaining strongholds in northern Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka rebels’ air attack on capital

Tamil Tiger rebel aircraft on Friday dropped bombs in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, and a rural town, military sources told CNN. One or two bombs fell near the nation’s air force headquarters, with one striking the Inland Revenue Department building, the sources said

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India: 70,000 trapped in Sri Lanka war zone

India on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka’s Tamil rebels to "release" civilians, who it said numbered about 70,000 in Sri Lanka’s war zone. India is ready to help evacuate them, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Indian parliament. “Estimates on the number of civilians trapped vary, but 70,000 or so are estimated to be there now.

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Sri Lanka says 10,000 civilians flee fighting

The Sri Lankan government said Sunday that more than 10,000 civilians have fled fighting between government forces and Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka over the past week, a "sudden increase" in people displaced by the violence. Most of the 10,501 displaced civilians are from Kilinochchi, while others are from the Jaffna peninsula, according to a news release from Sri Lanka’s defense ministry

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