17 Civilians Killed as shells hit four schools being used as shelters

[oberliner]

From the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/world/asia/03cnd-lanka.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Sri Lanka Fighting Kills 17 Who Were in a Shelter

COLOMBO, Aug. 3 — At least 17 civilians were killed Thursday when shells hit four schools being used to shelter them from fighting between Sri Lankan security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels in the country’s east.

It was the highest number of civilian casualties since fighting broke out earlier this week, effectively reviving war in Sri Lanka after four and a half years of a tenuous truce. On Wednesday, a civilian hospital in the same eastern town, Muttur, was hit by shelling, and four staff members were injured.

[ThomCat]

1. This is crazy.

And it seems to be contagious.

[Ian David]

2. Which side do we get to call evil and vilify?

Please tell me, so I'll know whether to feel sorry that these children are dead, or if I should just say they're reaping the whirlwind of an illegal occupation.

Why aren't they negotiating with the people shooting at them?

I really need to see the world in black-and-white so I can decide which lives have worth.

Thanks!


:sarcasm: