SLA objects to hoisting Tiger flag

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 July 2004, 12:05 GMT]
Tension prevailed between the soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army and members of the public Monday evening in Vathiri area in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district over the question of hoisting Tiger flag in a public function when organizers refused to bring down the flag, residents said.

Organizers of a football match held in Alankattai grounds in Vathiri area Monday evening hoisted Tiger flag to mark the inaugural event. Soldiers of the SLA located in the area rushed to site and objected for hoisting Tiger flag and demanded its removal. But the people of area refused to bring down the flag stating that it was not contrary to the ceasefire agreement, sources said.

Monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) later visited the site on a complaint by the SLA and requested the organizers of the sports event to remove the flag. But the organizers reminded the SLMM monitors of the decision that was taken at a meeting between the SLA and LTTE that no Tiger flag should be hoisted at any event, which was organized by government departments. Hence Tiger flag could be hoisted in the particular event, which was organized by the people of the area and not by government authorities, SLMM monitors were told.

SLMM monitors thereafter left the scene after heated discussion with the organizers of the event, residents said.