Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military

A large number of civilians detained as prisoners in LTTE custody in Thoppigala revealed they were used as slaves and were forced to set up landmines which killed nearly 100 of them.

Eleven such detainees, who escaped from the LTTE custody before the capture of Thoppigala, told the military that more than 80 detainees were killed for not obeying orders, a senior military official said.

These civilians, residents of Mavadivembu, Valaichennnai, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa, Illupdichenai and Kannankuda were able to reach the military on Saturday at Kinniyadi in Batticaloa.

The official said all these detainees had been held in dark torture cells, which were later found by the military.

“The LTTE had forced them to bury landmines and in some instances they had been asked to gather intelligence on behalf of the Tigers,” the official said. Their tasks also included burying of anti – personnel mines and constructing ‘booby’ traps.

“Some of these victims who had protested to Tiger harassment were killed,” he said. The civilians had confessed the Tigers had kept the victims starving for days before killing them.

Two teenagers, seven in their twenties and two in their late thirties were among those who surrendered to the troops. The official said these detainees had burn injuries, scars and other bruises on their bodies, proof of the suffering they had under gone under LTTE detention.

(Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military)