CJDPO condemns SLA violence against LTTE in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 June 2003, 05:51 GMT]
The Confederation of Jaffna District Public Organization (CJDPO) Sunday condemned several violent acts of the Sri Lanka government troops committed on Saturday and Sunday against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political activists and their offices in the Valigamam division, sources said.

The CJDPO in a statements issued Sunday night warned that it would be forced to launch a country wide protest campaign against the government if such acts by the security forces continue unabated, sources said.

The CJDPO statement said:

"Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers had waylaid a LTTE political activist Mr.Thamilan at Valakkambarai-Chullipuram road Sunday evening and attempted to check his bag. Mr.Thamilan refused to allow them to check his bag. Even after he identified himself as a LTTE political activist SLA soldiers insisted that he should be examined.

Additional soldiers numbering about three hundred were brought down to the site in an attempt to intimidate the LTTE activist Mr.Thamilan. Soldiers at the site opened fire to chase the civilians who rushed to the scene in support of LTTE member Mr.Thamilan. Six were wounded in that incident.

Meanwhile a grenade was lobbed at the LTTE women political office at Sanidilipay Saturday night around 11 p.m. But the grenade did not explode.

Another grenade lobbed at this office Sunday night exploded.

Government security forces were behind these violent and intimidatory activities.

Tamil people are still committed to peace and work for the success of the present peace process.

The government cannot achieve anything by endorsing violent acts by the security forces against the LTTE. How could the government strengthen the peace process if it adopts a wait and see policy at a time anti-peace elements have deployed their might to derail the peace process?

Tamil people condemn such violent acts of the security forces against LTTE activists and civilians who are engaged in political activities under the ceasefire agreement."