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Sri Lanka: What Kind of "Victory"?
Written by: Andrew Stroehlein
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After months of battle, government forces tightening an ever constricting noose around the Tamil Tigers seem to have finally beaten the rebel group. Still, deep concerns remain for tens of thousands of civilians caught up in the fighting.
The Tigers' "international representative", Kumaran Padmanathan, has been quoted conceding defeat, though fighting is still probably continuing in small pockets where some groups of fighters remain. The Sri Lankan government released a press statement yesterday saying that all the civilians were out of the conflict zone.
But that is a strange and very worrying claim. In recent days, the UN had been estimating that 50,000 to 80,000 civilians were still trapped. What has happened to them? The UN's description of a "blood bath" last weekend could be an understatement. The US may have fresh satellite images that could help answer the question.
Whatever the case, there are surely hundreds or even thousands of injured people -- civilians and non-civilians -- in desperate need of evacuation and medical treatment. The ICRC needs to be granted full access to the region immediately to treat and evacuate any survivors. This was previously prevented by the government on security grounds, but the authorities have no excuses now if, as they say, the military operation is over.
Of the civilians who are already in the government's care, the cases of four individuals in particular need to be highlighted. They were government-employed health workers in the conflict zone trying to help treat the wounded to the very end. Unfortunately, the government also suspects them of providing information from inside the zone to international journalists and others over the past months -- including evidence of government shelling of areas with large concentrations of non-combatants, which may constitute a war crime.
Doctors Varatharajah and Shanmugarajah, and Dr. T. Sathiyamurthy, the regional director of Health Services in Kilinochchi, are currently believed to be in custody at Omanthai. Also at risk is the Additional District Secretary from Kilinochchi, who is now in one of the internment camps in Vavuniya. The ICRC has apparently not been allowed access to them.
Some have said that the army's attacks on medical facilities in recent weeks were a deliberate attempt to silence these individuals. True or not, the government's history of disappearing its critics gives cause enough to fear for the lives of these individuals now in their custody.
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46 responses to “Sri Lanka: What Kind of "Victory"?”
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Journalist Andrew Stroehlein is Communications Director for the International Crisis Group, the conflict resolution organisation, where he promotes responsible coverage of current and potential conflicts and helps draw attention to forgotten wars around the world.
17 May 2009 21:13:11 GMT
Srilanka will murder these doctors and say that they were killed in the crossfire. But according to our sources, many of those people who has seen the escorted by the Srilankan army are alive and well and are in the process of being transfered to the concentration camps. Srilanka cannot hide the truth forever. The truth of the criminal state will be oneday shouted from the rooftops.
18 May 2009 09:41:29 GMT
The conventional war against the LTTE may be over (just as we heard a few hrs ago that its leader Prabakharan has been killed, while fleeing in an ambulance, yet more violations of International Humanitarian Law), but the biggest battle is still to start. To ensure the well being of the 250.000 IDPs, having fled the LTTE in the past few months. It will be a gargantuan task for the GoSL, for which they will need the assistance of partners, such as the UN and the international organisations. The responsiibility will rest with the legal authorities, but they will have to show more commitment to transparency and a sincere willingness to debate and discuss with their partners. There is a huge task ahead in building on the goodwill that many of the ground forces have built with the civilians, by showing a humane face, it is now up to the politicians to follow suit. The hawks have won the war on the battlefront! Now it is time to let justice be done in the eye of the world so that the people on Sri Lanka will be able to take hold of their future without repression, corruption and fear of terror, be it from paramilitary or any other armed force. Free and unhindered access to IDPs and an open dialog without mud slinging and accusations. It is up to the GoSL to allow the world to see that the humanitarian operations should now be fully focused on the hundreds of thousands that are desperately waiting to return to their own lands. And that includes those poeple who have been living as displaced since the 80's and 90's in Vavuniya and other districts.
18 May 2009 09:42:49 GMT
The Tamils must know the game is over. Enough of blood spilling of innocent victims. Those who live abroad must keep away from lies and fictions of Tiger elements. These fellows have taken the Tamils for a ride at the expense of untold misery of thousands.The bloody war is over.
18 May 2009 09:45:45 GMT
Sri Lanka government should be caught under human rights abuse as there were no journalists involved. They must have been suspected of war crimes.
18 May 2009 09:47:38 GMT
Sri Lanka may threaten them to lie. An independent investigation from the doctors in an neutral country such as the US or UK is essential to prove Mahinda and Gotabhya Rajapakses war crimes.
18 May 2009 09:48:38 GMT
Sri Lanka has faced terrorism for over 25 years, resulting in vast devastations, that needs massive reconstructions. LTTE terrorists elected by no one, their sole objective is to achieve Eelam at any cost (even killing the same people they are supposed to be protecting if they dare to defy them). The damage the LTTE did for ethnic harmony is paramount. The "Victory" is defeating that terrorism !!! http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/05/appeal-to-tamil-diaspora.html
18 May 2009 09:49:28 GMT
It seems that Sri Lanka's victory will not go down well in some circles. It is easy for foreign reporters to say that 'victory' was costly based on modern European values, but those Sri Lankans who have been subjected to 30 years of unbelievable medieval brutality of LTTE (against Tamils, Sinhalese, and Muslims) will not see it that way. LTTE pioneered not only modern terrorism, but also the most effective propaganda network that naive international media has not recognized yet.
18 May 2009 09:50:33 GMT
More than 25,000 Tamils have died in the safe zone within the past 48 hrs due to no medicine. There are about 100 Tamils dying with out medicine every hour. Media must be allowed to bring the truth to the world. Sri Lankan government is celebrating its victory over innocent Tamil blood.
18 May 2009 09:51:20 GMT
Thanks Andrew for the coverage Government! Are you please listening? Government is making all efforts to make Buddhism as the state religion .Before that why not practice Buddhism. Please help those thousands of dying civilians due to lack of foods and medical facilities. Help those widows, orphans and handicapped
18 May 2009 09:54:17 GMT
Reports coming from the safe zone are very disturbing. Thousand of injured civilians left to die. Doctors are key witness to war crimes and they're probably killed by now. God help these poor souls who are under the clutches of blood thirsty killers (SL Forces).
18 May 2009 09:54:54 GMT
Accourding to reports 72,000 civilians has been rescured from the LTTE Terrorist in the last 3 days. This is a heroic effort by the Sri Lankan forces and we should all help to rehabilitate these innocent civilians that had suffered enough in the hads of the LTTE Terrorist. I think this is th most important tast in hand now. I have some of my relatives in this group and wishing and praying every day fro them.
Sinna.18 May 2009 09:55:23 GMT
Thanlks to 'Andrew Stroehlein'
Tamils life is in more danger now. That is only sure. only god can save ouer people.18 May 2009 09:56:00 GMT
There is no justice in this world. In the name of democratically elected government and terrorism srilanka killed it's own people thousands and thousands but no country has condemned or able to stop it.
I feel ashamed to be Indian for the injustice done by Indian government to Tamils.18 May 2009 09:58:05 GMT
Dear Editor,
Thanks for publishing this well-balanced article. I am writing on behalf of Tamils+//3//f/9-There are many big nations helped Srilankan government to successfully execute its genocide agenda...all I can see that any outcome can not be silenced without fixing the root cause - appropriate political solution to oppressed Tamils. Justice seems to be disappeared sometimes in the world, but it will win...we all are going to die one day, but it is a matter of when and how+//3//f/9.no body here in the world to live forever+//3//f/9 The past 60 years incidents are giving good enough evidences for the Srilankan government never treated Tamils in Srilanka with equal rights (not even basic rights +//3//Q" they are using food and medicine as their weapons for ethnic cleansing) and they will not treat Tamils with dignity..(They burned our largest library in Asia and executed standardization method from preventing Tamils students going to universities which is Educational Genocide). Keeping and torturing Tamils as refugees in their own Tamil land, destroying hospitals (25000 people are dying in bungers with out treatments) Doctors are being arrested or killed+//3//f/9-Journalisms are in danger+//3//f/9. Do you really expect equal rights to Tamils from this racist Srilankan government since the high authority people in political power said that this is Singala country only+//3//f/9 +//3//f/9-Tamils can only live with dignity by having their own land without the inference of racist Srilankan government+//3//f/9.It is really shame on International community as the result of helping the Srilankan government in many ways+//3//f/9 Best Regards, Sonia18 May 2009 09:58:51 GMT
United Nations, how long will you watch in silence as thousands of innocent Tamil civilians lie scattered and savaged by the actions of a Sri Lankan government with utter detest for their lives? Will you speak again of human rights and mourn for their sufferings when there remains no trace of their souls or identity? Will history judge you as yet again sleeping when these helpless people have been crying for your security? Tamils have been left orphans in this world and they are now only at God's mercy. Please I urge you, SAVE the lives of those you still can!
18 May 2009 10:01:54 GMT
Will the IC & UN save & take responsibility of the lives of the 80 odd thousand civillians that are still within the conflict zone? Now that the our protectors the freedom fighters are no more. This is what u'll wanted isn't it.. for the Tigers to surrender, well u've got it now keep up to ur word & not let one more life be taken by the SLA...Can you gurantee that? Can the IC now gurantee the safety of all those who are already in the IDP camps as well as those who are in the mullaivaikaal area... How can we believe you, after you let 25,000 people die right b4 ur eyes. Will you atleast now force Srilanka to allow access to the UN & monitoring missions to ensure the rest of our people are safe & attended to & may be in the process get the real picture of what is actually taking place.. A GENOCIDE! WE have no one left to protect us but you.. You branded us terrorists, when all we fought for was our own land, not urs or srilanka's for that matter...TAMIL EELAM is our land...With or without Our leader we will continue to fight for it, for our people. Atleast now realise it was not one mans agenda, but the tamils aspiration for freedom & independence that our leader was fighting for. For which he has given 35 yrs of his life & the 100,000 young men & women who gave up their lives too. Becouse we the Tamils wanted it. And we will get it! But untill then, Can we trust you to keep are people safe???????
18 May 2009 10:04:08 GMT
This is victory for peace loving people.LTTE world ruthless terrorist outfit.LTTE never kill single person. They kill more Tamil people than Sinhalese.Yes truth of the LTTE you can see now.
18 May 2009 10:04:51 GMT
Yes This is victory of genocide.Same story as when srilankan army captured jaffna.In mid-90's hundreds of civilians who got into the hands of the srilankan army in Jaffna were missing. Mass graves of the massacred became known later in a place at Chemma'ni in the Jaffna peninsula. Several instances of rape and murder were proven, whilst the vast majority were not investigated. Those convicted were later released.
18 May 2009 10:06:15 GMT
Colombo is celebrating a "victory against the Tamils". Sri Lanka is a divided nation. Sinhalese are urged by the Sri Lankan State itself to celbrate their victory. It is an unimaginable stupidity to wage a war against your own people and celebrate after 3 months of mass murder of your own citrizen.
It is important that the SL state and Leaders of countries like India, China and other western natios that gave their full support for the war in Sri Lanka understand that there won't be peace in Sri Lanka unless the Tamils are allowed to live freely in their own land. You can't silence a whole nation. Let alone aniquilate completely.18 May 2009 10:07:06 GMT
In the name of war against LTTE, Sri Lankan Sinhala racists genocide Tamils without any evidence.
These doctors are the witnesses of war crimes in Sri Lanka. Definetely, Government will threat or kill them without evidences.18 May 2009 10:07:39 GMT
Sri Lanka should be punished for war crimes, I think there is evidence enough. If they have cornered the LTTE and if the LTTE have laid down their weapons, they why are people still trapped?
These doctors for sure will be dead now because they know what happened on the inside. The GoSL can hide the truth as much as they can for now, but they can't keep it hidden forever. There should be a thorough investigation by international agencies into the allegations of rape, abduction and murder!!!18 May 2009 10:08:17 GMT
The International community is to blame for not stepping in in preventing this blood bath of Tamils in SL. It might be true the LTTE is ruthless, but it needs to be, as it is fighting a heartless terrorist state to achieve liberation for Tamils. Lets see whether now this shameless international community is going to step in bring justice to Tamils by securing their safety and liberation or it is going to walk away (of course continue to make useless statements) from SL leaving the Tamils to be left as second class citizens.
18 May 2009 10:08:42 GMT
Its reassuring to know that these puzzled questions in the minds of many tamils are debated by other caring organizations worldwide.Thanks for this concientious report.
18 May 2009 10:09:29 GMT
Your voice from the International Crisis Group is very, very crucial at this stage if this age- old conflict is to be taken to a meaningful next stage and towards justice for the long suffering Tamil people. Neither the belligerant State in Sri Lanka nor the the international community which has been a by-stander for months now is capable of driving any such process. Please raise your voice loud!
18 May 2009 10:10:21 GMT
Sri Lankan government will kill them, if UN does not help to save them.
18 May 2009 10:11:13 GMT
Sri Lanka: What Kind of "Victory"?
Here's what I believe. This is the beginning of a new day, direction for Sri Lanka. Those whose colour and culture that is very different from ours will never be able to understand. But together with Indian we shall address all problems of all communities living in Sri Lanka once the terror leader is eliminated. It is easier to write superficial analysis from the safety of far away places when stories of suicide bombers blowing up whole streets are just pictures on your television while we had to live through it for more than 25 years.18 May 2009 10:12:02 GMT
Sri Lanka will cover up all the atrocities it had so far committed.The winner always has its way. The LTTE will be demonized, those who worked with the will be villified, and the Tamils will be given a cosmatic political presence in SL which already the tamil quisilings of the govt. have accepted. If they do not accept they too will become the " disappeared". Of course India and the international community will settle down to accept the govt. position. This is the way the weak and the helpless are treated all over and have been for many centuries. The LTTE showed the world that not all tamils can be cowed down.
18 May 2009 10:12:30 GMT
This is very sad. If indeed Sri Lanka prosecute or KILL these medical staff what a sorry state this island is in at the moment. These people are GEMs, who did not care about their life to save others life.
What is the purpose UN, ICRC etc?18 May 2009 10:15:51 GMT
I'm glad to see the international community finally keen on asking questions and doubting the Sri Lankan Government.
The Government shelled hospitals, Churches, school buses, safety zones, and places full of civillians. And if it was reported or there was an eyewitness, they would dismiss it as tamil propaganda. If it was, surely there'd be no problems in letting the media in from the beginning? The LTTE on the other hand were keen on the media as they had nothing to hide. They have NOT been using civillians as a human shield, the civillians chose to stay with them rather than in the 'concentration' camps of the Government. Another action of the Government was to arrest the reporters from Channel 4. Why? Because they saw the terror and were courageous enough to report it. The Government does whatever it wants, including ethnic cleansing but it is not put to justice. These articles, with doubts are our first step to justice18 May 2009 10:16:51 GMT
If nothing to hide Sri Lanka government will allow independent observers and aid.
By resisting, they are only saying this is all part of the continuation of the agenda to uproot Tamils from Sri Lanka and deprivation of livelihood to may of those who lived in the Tamil homelands.18 May 2009 10:17:33 GMT
You pose an interesting question...
The UN estimated 50,000 trapped in the NFZ and a possible "bloodbath" based on reports given out by some people, including these Docs.. The SL government says they saved 70,000 people, without this bloodbath...Much beyond the expectation of UN. Does it not occur to you that this is likely to be a reflection of the professionalism of the Army and false propaganda by the LTTE...?18 May 2009 10:26:31 GMT
Thank you Andrew for bringing up a vital question. According to the UN Officials and the Vanni Government agent, there should be more civilians in the so called "safe zone". Sri Lankan Govt. is saying that all are evacuated. But they are still shelling and raining chemical weapons on the region. Is this a planned Genocide so that they need not account for the civilians they are killing and killed.
The civilised world has a responsibility to protect the doctors and the Government Agent, who remained risking their lives in order to help the unfortunate people. Sri Lankan Govt.'s Track record of killing, torturing people in their custody is well documented and known all over the world. It is UN's responsibility to protect the remaining civlians and the four dedicated civil servants. Already several lives are lost in the wanton killing of the murderous regime of Mahinda Rajapakse.18 May 2009 10:27:20 GMT
The mythology indoctrinated fanatical Rajapakse regime in Sri Lanka is conducting mass killing of Tamils to achieve its chauvinistic goals. Beside, the terror regime is involved in terror tactics such as: torture and disappearances and mass imprisonment of Tamils, killing of journalists, execution of aid workers and the subsequent cover-ups.
All these crimes are committed with deceptive propaganda, with the help from certain external media outlets, political forces and hired agents. An international tribunal for Sri Lanka is urgently needed to account for serious violation of minority rights and crimes committed by Rajapakse and his henchmen and to account for Prabakarans terrorist acts.18 May 2009 10:28:44 GMT
Shame on international community. UN should be dissoved and send their offices home they are useless and complicit in genocide of tamils.we hope like minded people initiate ware crime charges against srilankan president and his brothers.
18 May 2009 10:29:35 GMT
Well, these are the only eye neutral eye witnesses during the genocide and GoSL is hell bent on making them skape goats, ie. to make them agree with their "ways" to make statements, just wait and see. If the Un and IC who abetted all these carnage to the tamils, willing to compromise, then they should take these doctors out of SL NOW. If not the TRUTH WILL BE DEAD FOR EVER.
18 May 2009 15:03:02 GMT
What does this indicate...SL Government is willing to hide the DARK side of the war. The Killing Field will never be made know to the world becos all the SL Government & President SL wanted was to finish off all the key ppl from the LTTE BUT they are wrong!!!! Fresh Tamilians will rise becos this is not the end of War but the new beginning of the struggle of the Tamil ppl. They have been driven away from their own village or homes & lets see how the SL government intend to give FREEDOM, EQUALITY & PEACE for the Tamil ppl whom they have suppressed all these years. Lets wait & see!!!!
18 May 2009 15:03:34 GMT
The entire world knows these 3 doctors had witnesssed too much and therefore there is not even a glimmer of hope for their safe return. Govt of Srilanka carried out (or allowed to carry out by international community) this mass slaughter of tamils without any witness and till now the international community, knowing that the nature of this govt, did not do anything to safe guard innocent tamils despite our pleas for months. Being minority is a crime? We, tamils are not ruwandans that will cry, forget and forgive. We will bring every individual culprits that had committed crime against our people.
18 May 2009 15:07:16 GMT
The ICRC as stated in the article need not be required. The Sri Lanka Red Cross is even more capable of handling the issue as it has many tamil nationals in the organization and the ground situation and terrain familliar to it. WE have seen what the ICRC has donated to the LTTE in previous instances including transporting its leaders. Thus, after a difficult but successful battle, westerners who were ready to give oxygen to the terrorists are not required to help in the rehabilitation. SL people can handle it alone. We know who the west are now. They are not welcome in SL anymore. Sri Lanka is now firmly in the Anti US block more because of the doings of US and UK. This in turn will have more adverse issues not for SL, but for the US and UK regarding strategic security issues. The only thing the SL will loose is the IMF loan which anyway will not be forthcoming.
18 May 2009 15:07:41 GMT
Sri Lanka Govt did many mass murders,jail massacres,Anti Tamil programs,burning Tamil cultural center, Aid workers massacre,many journalist also murdered.This culture of impunity created LTTE to protect tamil civilians.Unfortunately so far nooobody to book by country's law.Same fate might happen to the doctors too because Govt want to escape from war crime kill or disappear the evidence this not new to Tamils in Sri lanka
18 May 2009 15:08:45 GMT
The mythology indoctrinated fanatical Rajapakse regime in Sri Lanka is conducting mass killing of Tamils to achieve its chauvinistic goals. Beside, the terror regime is involved in terror tactics such as: torture and disappearances and mass imprisonment of Tamils, killing of journalists, execution of aid workers and the subsequent cover-ups.
All these crimes are committed with deceptive propaganda, with the help from certain external media outlets, political forces and hired agents. An international tribunal for Sri Lanka is urgently needed to account for serious violation of minority rights and crimes committed by Rajapakse and his cohorts and to account for Prabakarans terrorist acts.18 May 2009 15:10:24 GMT
My question is What is the point of having United Nations. Us and UK went to war in Iraq by ignoring UN slow resolutions. Why didn't they act now. Is it because of Indian army inside? Come on International Community do more killing and support the Regime like Srilankan Terror government. Shame of IC they are gutless to talk against the Gothabaya Rajapaksha (Defence Secretary) abusive language. Even after they killed several Journalist IC cannot raise the voice against them. I am not going to Believe UN, Human Right activist etc. These Institutions became speechless after the 9/11 by George W.Bush. I am not supporting Terrorism though. What happened and happening in Srilanka is complete MURDER WITH WEST, EAST, SOUTH EAST ALL COUNTRIES BLESSINGS. All these institutions lost my respect after this genocide happened to Tamil civilians.
18 May 2009 15:11:11 GMT
we share this sorrow of ethnical cleansing and great butchery that are being laid on our way. We need your shoulders to lay our heads in search of comfort, for the outcry from the children of Tamils reaches the heavens. It is the time to think whether we are reaching the extinction, for we logically accuse and call for charges on the GOSL on the systematic stimulation of evil against our community. My friends we bring this to your notice where you shall know by heart how GOSL has pulled away from the ceasefire - the bridge that was established for the negotiation. The fruits of evil have widespread for the last few years where killing, abduction, ransom collecting are innumerable. For the tree shall be know by its fruit thus shall it be with the case of GOSL because the tree of wickedness shall beget corruption and evil as its fruits. How many lives been lost and abducted +//3//Q" all that are wrapped in the unfound list. We have s! een t! he media personnel are threatened and their voices wiped away. It is an outspoken truth that all such hardnosed activities are carried out either by GOSL or by its associated paramilitary units.
18 May 2009 15:12:17 GMT
Sri Lanka, What kind of "victory"? good question Mr Andrew Stroehlein, Because SL Government has celebrated many victories in the past, every time to satisfy Srilankan war mongers. First time it was done twelve years ago under the old regime in an ancient Sinhalese medieval way,five years before a cease fire was announced in 2002.
Will these victories will end long arms conflict in Srilanka for ever,stop all further arms purchase and the beginning countries of developments?. Will the free media in sri lanka will ever have a free access to all these conflict areas and be able to report the truth to the world. Millions of displaced Srilanka minority refugees living in high security camps in Srilanka and in India will ever have freedom to return to their homes and start life again as free Democratic citizen. Because of the present Srilanka celebrations of victories,no more white vans abduction,no more roadside execution of opposition politicians and journalist. Will the Srilanka government will stop its present stand off with the justice department and honour all its rulings. None of these will never happen and in fact things are going to be very difficult for every Sri Lanka citizens after these so called "Victories" in the present world economic downturn. Srilanka in its history,first time is accused of wide spread human rights abuses,coinciding with threat from UN, EU and many other countries for crack dawn on media freedom and genocide of minorities.18 May 2009 15:12:42 GMT
"Ethnic war "- without any help from their ethnic brethern sitting & spectating a few nautical kilometers, those who suffering inside the camps under going such an agony which is inexplicable ,all these days their government took international aids in the name of war torn island ("ONLY CASH - NO HUMANITARIAN interference from UN /ICRC" ) now again they need support (Dollars) to rebuild the nation.
We always forget that "HISTORY WRITTEN BY THE VICTOR" -- Hence TRUTH BURIED DEEP inside Vanni soil.18 May 2009 15:13:23 GMT
Ethnic cleansing? In October 2008 Mr.Gottabaya said there were about 70,000 Tamils were trapped but in May 2009 he has rescued about 145,674 Tamils. Has each Tamil given birth 2 children during this period? Last week UN said 50-60,000 people were trapped, Tamils said 100-150,000 people were trapped. GoSL said about 20,000. Now 70,000 people have been rescued. Again has each Tamil given birth to 3.5 children?
48 hours were given to wipe out terrorism. During this period, President and the Commander in Chief of Srilanka was out of his country. Prime Minister of Srilanka was out of his country. Opposition leader of Srilanka was out of his country. Was it a co-incident of all three important people were out of the country while a big massacre was happening or are they trying to avoid a war crime prosecution pretending that they were not in Srilanka while this was happening?18 May 2009 15:14:19 GMT
The international media was making statements based on information supplied by doctors in the rebel held zone. Now it turns out they belonged to the LTTE medical corps!!!! It was very sad that civilians had to suffer. But that was primarily the fault of the LTTE, who held them hostage and shot them down if they tried to escape. This has been confirmed by UN, redcross, BBC, the UK foreign secretary and everyone else. Was Truman tried for war crimes for dropping atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? 250, 000 civilians died there. Were the Israeli's tried for the deaths of Civilians? Was president Bush tried for civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan? The govt forces did rescue hundreds of thousands of Tamil hostages from the tigers. There were civilian casualties. But the other option was to let the tigers go, and face another 30 years of war, and allow the tigers to kill another hundred thousand civilians.