
´Intellectuals for Human Rights´ has urged the LTTE to immediately halt its practices of giving arms training to civilians and using them as a human shield. In a statement, its Secretary Prof. Rahula Athalage strongly denounced the Tigers for not allowing the Wanni people to exercise their inalienable right of freedom of movement and move to cleared areas. He also insisted that the LTTE should stop torturing people who flee areas of battle as well as their relatives. The statement also wants the government to reasonably evaluate the basic needs of civilians caught in the conflict, and fulfill same.