SLA seeks Tamil groups’ lists

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 March 1999, 01:19 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army visited the offices of the various ex-militant Tamil groups in Jaffna yesterday, as none of them had responded to Army's request to provide manpower towards establishing an auxiliary force to protect the local councillors in the north said sources.

The Army had earlier requested the Tamil groups to submit a list of names by February 22.

Under the SLA program, the Tamil groups with the larger number of Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) members would be able to raise a significant paramilitary force armed with government issued assault rifles.

The PLOTE had told the visiting SLA officials that they would provide a list of personnel by yesterday evening.

The SLA has asked the other groups to provide an explanation in writing if they fail to submit a list of personnel by yesterday evening.

Meanwhile the organiser for the EPDP in Jaffna, 'Jegan', had rejected the SLA's proposal that the bodyguards wear Police uniforms.

He said his members would not hesitate to resign if all the paramilitary groups are expected to wear the same uniforms, according to ex-militant sources.