Sri Lankan military attacks drive thousands from Muttur

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimates that 20,000 to 30,000 people have fled from the predominantly Muslim town due to the lack of food and water, and continued shelling. A bank worker in the nearby port of Trincomalee told the WSWS by phone last night that the ICRC had sent 50 lorries of relief supplies to Muttur, but had been blocked by the military at Kantalai just to the south of the town.

The LTTE attacked the government-held town in a bid to cut army supply lines between Trincomalee and troops further south seeking to capture the Mavilaru irrigation sluice gate. President Mahinda Rajapakse ordered an offensive on July 26, accusing the LTTE of closing the sluice and cutting off water to thousands of farmers downstream. The military operation is the first attempt to seize LTTE territory since the two sides signed a ceasefire agreement in 2002.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2006/aug2006/sril-a05.shtml