Passage through Uyilankulam checkpoint restricted

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 May 1999, 04:29 GMT]
A large number of civilians were refused entry into the SLA controlled area of Mannar by security forces manning the Uylankulam checkpoint yesterday, said residents who arrived in Vavuniya yesterday evening.

On Saturday morning, when civilians from the LTTE held area in Vanni came to Karukkaikulam to go to Mannar and Vavuniya, they were asked to wait at the checkpoint until 11.30 am by members of the LTTE who were manning the LTTE check point.

Civilians said they had noticed soldiers waiting in ambush in the jungle areas after they passed through the LTTE check point.

Police and SLA soldiers at the Uylankulam allowed only about 600 to 700 civilians to go into Vavuniya and Mannar. Over thousand had been refused entry into the army controlled area, they said.

Although the SLA had moved into Periyamadu area there were no reported clashes between the army and the LTTE.