International Crisis Group, in a media release offer their take on what should be done on the dire situation in Mullativu. They also describe the ground conditions in the area. An excerpt:
Independent estimates from sources on the ground and satellite imagery suggest at least 150,000 people are trapped by the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military, more than the level claimed by the Sri Lankan government. Most have little access to fresh water, food, or medicine. While they are mostly in or near the government-declared “no fire zone” along the coast, the government itself has shelled that zone daily. LTTE refusal to allow civilians to leave makes them complicit in keeping civilians at grave risk. The medical system in Wanni has collapsed, and sanitation systems are non-existent, with communicable diseases spreading among the displaced. Doctors have reported cases of death by starvation, a claim the government strongly contests. A shipment of 500 metric tonnes of food on 8 March was the first major humanitarian aid since the end of January.
UN agencies have documented more than 2300 civilian deaths and at least 6500 injuries since late January. More than 500 children have been killed and over 1400 injured. More than 100 victims are arriving each day in the make-shift medical centres still functioning in Wanni, many of whom die before evacuation. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been able to evacuate some 2000 injured and sick persons over the past few weeks, but few supplies have been able to get in. [..]
on “What should be done”:
The following actions by the Sri Lankan government and LTTE leadership should be taken immediately and without preconditions.
The Sri Lankan military has already achieved its military objectives and essentially won the war. It must not pursue a strategy of annihilation. The Sri Lankan government must hold off on the final assault to allow adequate supplies of food, water and medical aid to reach the civilian population and to let those civilians who wish to leave do so. An evacuation of civilians by sea with international assistance offers one possible escape route, and discussions under way to make this happen should be expedited. International leaders must make clear the unacceptable nature of continued military attacks which risk the death of even more thousands of civilians.
The LTTE must allow civilians to leave areas under its control. It has been defeated and must surrender. Its current actions demonstrate its utter disregard for the Tamil people it claims to want to liberate. The international community should send its strongest possible messages to the LTTE that it must negotiate a surrender. In exchange, key international parties should commit to supervise the surrender and to guarantee the physical protection of any surrendered fighters, with the ICRC present at the initial points of reception for those leaving areas of fighting. On the other hand, if the LTTE continues to use civilians as a human shield and forcibly recruit children and adults, its leadership should face international justice for its serious war crimes.
International leaders, in particular the UN Secretary-General, the Prime Minister of India and the President of the United States, must press for these actions immediately.
The United Nations Secretary General should publicly describe the extent of civilian suffering, including the UN’s own figures for casualties, and thus open the way for a more forceful international response. He should also insist that the Government of Sri Lanka allow immediate access to the “no fire zones” for UN staff, in order to conduct a proper assessment of needs. The Secretary General should immediately appoint a Special Representative to work with the Sri Lanka government and all relevant parties to see that all necessary steps are taken to end the humanitarian crisis and to bring a lasting settlement to the fighting.
These core recommendations will be difficult to put into practice. The Tiger leadership, which has become as much a cult as a rational guerrilla force, will be highly averse to surrender. The government, for its part, is understandably desperate to put an end to the LTTE once and for all and will resist vehemently any limitations on the use of military force.
Still, clear international calls on the Tigers to surrender – and on the Tamil diaspora and leaders in Tamil Nadu to cease their support for the LTTE – can help mitigate some of the Sri Lankan government’s suspicion about international motives. The promise of international supervision of an LTTE surrender may begin to weaken the Tigers’ hold on their forces – and therefore also on the civilian population. And important foreign governments, particularly India and the US, should provide security guarantees to the Sri Lankan government, perhaps in the form of increased naval surveillance of the coasts to prevent Tigers from escaping by sea.
The Sri Lankan government has a right under international law to respond to terrorist attacks and protect its territorial integrity. But destroying the Tigers at the cost of thousands of civilian lives is a prescription for deeper alienation of Tamils in Sri Lanka, radicalisation of Tamils around the world, and years of continued bloodshed. The international community has a responsibility to do all it can to preserve whatever chances there are for political dialogue leading to a lasting resolution of Sri Lanka’s conflict and for eventual reconciliation between communities.
The full media releae is on the ICG website. Worth a look.
InMutiny, welcomes your views on the topic.
In Mutiny 
the ltte attacked a mosque in matara today. should we wait any longer?
I see the Tamil population does not trust the Sri Lankan government as much as they trust the LTTE. Furthermore, there are a lot of clear indications that the Sri Lankan government has targetted the civilian population with shelling and bombing including cluster bombs. This means they should not be evacuated to give to the hands of the oppressor, the Sri Lankan government, in this conflict. I think the UN should step in and force the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to stop violence and settle the Tamil people in their own areas rather than Nazi style concentration camps. Hopefully, there will be a UN resolution coming soon to save the innocent civilians. I see the long and lasting peace can happen if and only if the Sri Lankan government addresses the legitimate grievances of the Tamils without any tricks or otherwise the LTTE will only be replaced by another militancy.
There is alot of sense in what Laurent has written. It is easy to feel angry and frustrated by the situation in SL. I have delibrately avoided commenting on the politics because it just becomes emotive. We can argue about this forever but it won’t change the status quo.
What is needed most is PRAYER. More is wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. This is the most realistic practical thing any of us can do. Fast and pray if we feel desperate to petition.
We can also try and campaign – raising awareness – writing to our parlimentarians. Raising awareness about what was happening in Darfur did alot to raise the profile of the situation there.
As for your comment “mark” – what do you suggest? Hatred only breeds hatred. And there is too much of that in SL already. Look at Israel and Palestine – 60 years on, the conflict still continues. Whole generations are growing up alienated and polarised, having only known war.
I am a Tamil from Jaffna. But I have so many wonderful Singhala friends. Some are Buddhists from Matara amongst other places. Having travelled much in SL – I can see little difference between the different peoples. Yes there are different cultures but this does not make us mutually exclusive.
Ultimately there are very few people who are gaining from this war. Whether suffering comes in the form of a explosion, creates adverse economic prospects, or means that our respective cultures are eroded as we find our selves living in foreign lands, this war is affecting the Ceylonese man.
The fight should not be between Singhala and Tamil, but between civilians who want to live is peace and work for a brighter future, and the political few who want to manipulate and exploit the situation.
In every fight, one side must rise above, and find the strength to take the intiative to forgive.
As much as I would like to see a Truth and Reconciliation committee effective in SL – I think it is unlikely in the near future.
Sadly justice is usually elusive in this life, but we can all be sure that no one will escape it in the next. Until then God help us, because I don’t know who else will!