Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission meets in Pooneryn:

http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/09/21/sec01.asp

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission meets in Pooneryn:
Tigers harassed us, say residents - Chaminda Perera in Pooneryn

People representing civil society organizations, Government servants, widows and those subjected to LTTE harassment aired their experiences during the final stage of war before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission when it met at the Pooneryn Divisional Secretariat.
'LTTE refused to treat my daughter'
Pooneryn Agricultural officer Mnadarajah Sundaramurthi said his daughter was injured in a cross-fire between the Army and the LTTE. She was taken to the Pudumathalan Government Hospital where the LTTE refused to take her for treatment. He said a bullet had pierced her hip. "LTTE cadres at the Pudumathalan hospital refused to treat my daughter as she was not from the family of LTTE members." Sundaramurthi broke down in tears when he recollected how he pleaded the LTTE to save his daughter’s life. “I begged them to take my daughter to the hospital for treatment as she was critical condition,” he said. However he managed to take her to Trincomalee hospital and thereafter she was transferred to Kanthalai and Vavuniya hospital.
Many people said they led a prosperous life before the LTTE chased them to Vishwamadu and Pudumathalan, when the forces were advancing towards Pooneryn. Pooneryn Agricultural officer Nadarajah Sundaramurthi said Tamil political parties are responsible for the Tamil people’s plight. He also said Tamil politicians, including organizations which took to arms should be punished for their short-sighted principles which resulted in creating problems in the country.
Sundaramurthi gave a free account of what actually happened in the last stage of the humanitarian operation. He said the Army did not fire at them deliberately, but there were incidents when civilians were injured when they were caught in the crossfire. Sundaramurthi said they did not have clothes, water and food, during the later stage of the war.
The food cargo meant for the people being held by the LTTE went to the terrorist camps and their bunkers, he said.
Sundaramurthi said the LTTE had ordered them to enlist at least one member of each family for their fighting cadre as there was an acute shortage of cadres at the later stage of the war.
The LTTE imposed a rule that all able men should extend their maximum support for the construction of bunkers and earth bonds to prevent the forces advancing to the area, he said.
Sundaramurthi said all families have their own experiences which would help the commission get a better idea of what actually happened during the final stage of the war.