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Contrary to the SLMM statement quoting survivors as saying the LTTE did not fire at the military from within the refugee camp in Vakarai a Reuters report said according to some survivors who have now fled to government controlled areas the LTTE had taken the first shot from the camp premises."First I heard big guns fired from the camp area," said a 27-year-old Tamil woman, asking not to be named. "I jumped into a bunker. Then the army returned fire and I heard big explosions in the camp."

The alleged rebel firing resulted in retaliatory ground firing from the government troops hitting the refugee camp area causing deaths to scores of civilians and injuring several others which eventually led to an outcry of condemnation.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) created the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) through the signing of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) on February 22nd 2002. Based on the CFA The Royal Norwegian Government (NRG) and the Government of Sri Lanka concluded a Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA) where status, privileges and immunities of SLMM and its members are defined and determined.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Acting Spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir told the Daily News that none of the civilians fleeing uncleared areas in Vakarai had not complained about military installations close to the IDP camp.

"The truce monitors who visited the scene had not seen any sign of military installation close the scene," she added.

She said truce monitors visited the scene a few hours after the incident.

According to military sources the LTTE has the capability of moving their guns within a short period in order to protect their heavy guns from retaliatory fire of the Security Forces.

The Security Forces had shelled the LTTE gun position after a few hours of verification through their mortar locating radars.

The civilians must be aware of their destiny faced by Thayalini, one of the three survivors who revealed the real picture of the Chencholai camp in Mullaitivu after her confession to the Police on the incident while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kandy.

Thayalini, died under mysterious circumstances as she was suddenly transferred to Vavuniya hospital from the hospital in Kandy following a request made by her family members.

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