Crime thrives under SLA control

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A spokesman of the Jaffna Traders Association speaking on condition of anonymity said today that despite several protests and complaints by the Association about the spate of robberies that is threatening business in the peninsula the SLA is dragging its feet on taking action to catch the thieves. Traders in the heart of Jaffna town closed shop for a day on Oct.16 to protest against the robberies.

The protest was organised by the Jaffna Traders' Association. This followed a series of midnight break ins where robbers had got away with expensive goods from shops in various parts of the peninsula.

This crime wave culminated in the robbery of 'Maharani textiles' in Jaffna town where fifty thousand rupees cash and sarees worth seven hundred thousand rupees were stolen in the middle of the night on Oct. 15.

The Jaffna Traders' Association condemned the robbery immediately and met the Jaffna town commander of the SLA to complain that no culprits are being brought to book despite the increasing number of break ins in recent weeks.

"There is a curfew after dark in Jaffna. Anyone moving about at midnight in the high security zones where the robberies are taking place can get shot on the spot by SLA sentries who are all over the place".

"We have reservations as to how the thieves are able to operate with such impunity. But we will wait and see developments next week and then decide on a strong course of action" said the spokesman.

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