14.9.2008
Defence observers say fearing a military onslaught once
devoid of civilians, the Tigers are using the situation
to gain the sympathy of the international community and
bring the wrath on the government,
Sept
14, Colombo: The United Nations in Sri Lanka said Sunday
that its staffers have halted their withdrawal from war
zones in Wanni in Sri Lanka after civilians protested
against the move.
The
decision has been taken after civilians gathered and protested
outside aid agency offices in Kilinochchi, to stop the
workers from leaving the region.
UN’s
Colombo office spokesman Gordon Weiss said the withdrawal
of staff had been suspended and they were awaiting instructions
from UN Headquarters in New York.
“We
have discussed the current situation with the Sri Lankan
government and kept it informed about our position. The
Government is fully aware of the situation. We had previously
agreed on the government directive to pull out,”
media reports said quoting Weiss.
UN
Spokesman said the civilians were told their concerns
would be conveyed to UN Headquarters and this had been
done.
Sri
Lankan government had ordered the aid agencies to leave
the war-hit Wanni saying it cannot guarantee the security
of the aid workers as government forces are moving towards
the LTTE heartland of Kilinochchi.
Earlier
the government urged the civilians of the rebel-held areas
to move to the government-controlled areas as it had arranged
all the necessary facilities for them.
However
defence observers and humanitarian organizations say the
Tigers are forcibly holding the civilians as human shields.
Fearing a military onslaught once devoid of civilians,
the Tigers are using the situation to gain the sympathy
of the international community and bring the wrath on
the government, they say.
Sri
Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said
the government is particularly keen about the safety of
the UN staff and as the offensive is getting stronger,
the government has instructed the UN to set up their offices
in Vavuniya.
The
Defence Secretary said that these workers were given deadlines
to reach government controlled areas but if they continue
to remain defying instructions, the government could not
take responsibility for their safety in future.
CP