LTTE is showing its hand openly in playing possibly their final card to attract foreign intervention and interference.
They are bombarding their own civilians with heavy weapons to lay the blame on the Sri Lankan forces. Hopefully, in their calculation, this will attract the foreign countries to throw a life line to save their souls.
LTTE is desperate with the Security Forces closing on them. Lives of the LTTE leadership are hanging on a thread. They know they are running out of time.
The only salvation is to appeal to their few friends in the international arena. If they fail they are a doomed.
LTTE never cared for civilians-then or now, they were at all times, pawns to be manipulated to the advantage of the LTTE.
LTTE is powerless to standup to the Sri Lankan forces. They badly need foreign friends to attract them in desperation they will resort to anything.
So again the civilians are targeted. They kept them in their custody for such purposes as human fodder to be exploited.
Ministry of Defence