Satellite imagery shows use of heavy weapons continues
[ Wednesday, 13 May 2009, 02:48.18 AM GMT +05:30 ]
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Tuesday issued a preliminary analysis of commercial high-resolution satellite imagery of the conflict zone in northern Sri Lanka that shows craters from the use of heavy weapons and the removal of thousands of likely structures used by internally displaced persons (IDPs) between May 6 and May 10.
Human rights groups' report on High-Resolution Satellite Imagery and the Conflict in Sri Lanka [7.36 MB]
The AAAS found that it was "certainly unlikely that the IDPs would have moved en masse, and so completely without a compelling reason." Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the conflict area. Sri Lankan government claims that its armed forces are no longer using heavy weapons in the densely populated conflict area in northern Sri Lanka. Imagery from these satellites analyzed by AAAS includes WorldView scenes collected at approximately 11AM local time on May 6 and May 10, 2009, as well as an earlier scene collected from the QuickBird satellite on May 9, 2005 (prior to the current period of conflict).
An additional scene from the GeoEye satellite Ikonos, acquired on March 23, 2009, is also available and was used to verify pre-conflict conditions in the CZ. For all scenes, the area identified as the Conflict Zone by the UN as of May 10, 2009 was reviewed to determine possible evidence of shelling and other heavy weapons fire, as well as movements and conditions of IDPs, especially as indicated on May 10.
Human rights groups' report on High-Resolution Satellite Imagery and the Conflict in Sri Lanka [7.36 MB]
