SLA tightening its grip on Northeast - Para

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 April 2003, 19:57 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army is strengthening its foothold where civilians live in the North-East even after the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the United National Front government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, said Mr. Pararajasingham (Para), Head of the Judicial Division of the LTTE, addressing a meeting in Jaffna town Wednesday.

Leading LTTE activists, Messrs. K.V.Balakumaran, Papa, Para and others are now engaged in addressing meetings and briefing several sectors of the masses in Jaffna about the current situation. One such meeting attended by co-operative employees was held at the Veerasingham Hall in Jaffna Wednesday morning, sources said.

"We must maintain our strength, which is the vital source for our freedom struggle. The present peace environment has dawned in the North-East due to the sacrifice of more than seventeen thousand LTTE martyrs. This should not be forgotten," Mr.Para said.

"Even after one year has passed since the signing of the MoU, Tamils still live in refugee camps and welfare centers," said Mr. Para, as they are unable to return to their own lands and houses, which are being “occupied by the SLA under the pretext that these fall under the High Security Zone.” Normalcy has not yet returned in the lives of Tamils in the North-East province, he said.