SLMM defuses tension in Jaffna over SLA's interference

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 November 2003, 18:19 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Friday afternoon stopped officials of the Jaffna district consumers' co-operative societies federation from hoisting the LTTE flag at the event held in the federation’s premises as a part of the Great Heroes' (Maveerar) Day celebrations. However, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials in Jaffna rushed to the site and defused the tension in the area following the SLA's action, civil sources said.

The co-operative sector organized the event Friday afternoon in connection with Great Heroes' Day at the office of the Jaffna district consumers' federation, which is located on Main street in Jaffna town at the Madathady junction, where an SLA vehicle had crashed against a motor bicycle killing two civilians on the spot recently, sources said.

The SLMM officials reminded the army soldiers who were at the site about the assurance given by SLA officials at a conference held Thursday with the LTTE activists regarding the hoisting of LTTE flags at public events, and particularly the celebrations of the Great Heroes Day, sources said.

SLMM officials also advised SLA soldiers and others at the site to show restraint and to maintain cordial relationship with the people in the interest of the country and the people at this juncture, sources said.

Thereafter, the function was held without any interference from the SLA. The Federation's chairman, Mr. P.Kanagalingam, presided. The LTTE’s Jaffna district deputy political head, Mr.Semmanan, the Thamileelam Judiciary’s Jaffna district head, Mr. Vijitharan, Civil Associations Forum President, Mr. Solomon Cyril, and activist Mr.Eelaventhan spoke, sources said.