- Title: SRI LANKA: Attack on bus kills at least 64 people in northern Sri Lanka
- Date: 16th June 2006
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Sinhala) SURVIVOR ABEYPALAGE KARUNADASA SAYING: "I got into the bus in the morning.There were about 200 people in the bus. After a while I heard an explosion. But the bus kept going. Then there was another explosion and the bus toppled over. I cannot remember anything after that." AMBULANCE BRINGING IN INJURED/INJURED WOMAN CRYING INSIDE AMBULANCE (3 SHOTS) V
- Embargoed: 1st July 2006 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Topics: Crime,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVADDS31W1KODQYV6AQIO5W45GYK
- Story Text: Sri Lanka launched air strikes against Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday (June 15) in retaliation for an attack on a bus that killed 64 people, the bloodiest violence by far since a 2002 ceasefire.
The government said the rebels detonated two mines placed side by side, spraying the packed bus with ball bearings on an isolated road near Tiger territory. Shortly after, air and artillery strikes on the rebel-held northeast coast began.
In the early evening, the raids shifted to the town of Kilinochchi, headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The ground shook and jet aircraft could be heard overhead, while the Tigers warned once again of a new civil war.
A military source said air force jets were aiming for a Tiger airstrip south of Kilinochchi that houses their fledgling air force -- around three light aircraft smuggled into the country in pieces. The Tigers did not comment on damage.
President Mahinda Rajapakse visited victims of the bus attack in the nearby government-held town of Anuradhapura, and said he remained committed to peace. But diplomats say the situation is getting out of control while international monitors say both sides must stop the violence.
Most on the bus were from the island's majority Sinhalese community. The government said the rebels wanted to provoke an ethnic backlash against minority Tamils to support their demands for a separate Tamil homeland.
"There were only civilians in the bus. There were no military personnel-only civilians," Inspector R.Kumarasinghe said.
Officials said 13 children were killed. The road beside the overturned bus was covered with glass and blood. Angry residents burned tyres in protest at the president's visit, saying his government had not protected them from the rebels.
"I got into the bus in the morning. There were about 200 people in the bus. After a while I heard an explosion. But the bus kept going. Then there was another explosion and the bus toppled over. I cannot remember anything after that," said survivor Abeypalage Karunadasa.
The Tigers denied involvement in the attack, but diplomats and analysts say they are by far the most likely perpetrators.
Sri Lanka's stock market closed down almost three percent on the news, with traders fearing a return to war could see Black Tiger suicide bombers hit the capital.
In Kilinochchi, the Tigers ordered residents to dim lights after the raid. The streets of the town were deserted and United Nations aid staff, many of them working on rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami, took shelter in bunkers.
Many fear the peace process is reaching an endgame. The Tigers pulled out of peace talks in April but agreed to talks last week in Oslo to discuss the safety of ceasefire monitors. But on arrival, they refused to meet Sri Lankan officials.
Diplomats say neither the government nor the Tigers have shown sufficient flexibility and fear that if violence continues the country will gradually fall back into a war that has already killed more than 64,000 people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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