LTTE air attacks response to Govt victories in North Deputy Minister

Air attacks on last Tuesday are “a last ditch effort” by the LTTE, Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila said.
Speaking to RFI during a visit to Paris, Bhaila said the LTTE wanted to show they have the capacity to keep fighting.
“We have captured most Tiger strongholds in the North,” Bhaila said. The military has claimed that it is close to capturing Kilinochchi, the Minister said adding that humanitarian concerns are responsible for the delay.
“That was to allow the civilian population of Kilinochchi to leave for safer ground,” he said, adding that the Government has a “zero tolerance policy on civilian casualties”.
He accused the LTTE of using civilians as human shields.
Bhaila said “we are doing our utmost on the humanitarian ground”, including sending about 1,000 tonnes of food and medical supplies to conflict-hit areas. “I think we may be the only Government in the world which feeds the terrorists” he said.
Bhaila said elections will be held in the North.
“We want to have elections in the north, hand over power to the people so that it’ll be the Tamil people, who will decide their future,” he said.
Bhaila also hoped that about 100,000 Muslims will be able to return to the North.
“They were expelled from the North 19 years ago because the LTTE feared that they would back Colombo against the call for a Tamil homeland. They are still living in IDP camps,” Bhaila said. “But they want to go to the North.
They are not able to go because of this terrorist problem and we are eagerly awaiting the day when the Forces will be able to clear the North. The Muslims will then be able to go back.”The Minister said, development in the formerly conflict-torn region is now the envy of other Sri Lankans. (News-Dailynews)