Trinco in high alert following fuel blockade threat

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 October 2004, 00:31 GMT]
Trincomalee town has been put on security alert from Tuesday evening following the announcement by the North East Sinhala Association (NESA) to launch 24 hour-road blockades from Trincomalee to other parts of the country transporting fuel and flour until the two Sinhala home guards arrested and remanded by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are released, security sources said. NESA is a front of the Sinhala nationalist Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a major constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Hundreds of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and policemen are deployed in strategic junctions and other installations in the east port town to quell any disturbances.

According to NESA sources, roadblocks are to set up at Anuradhapura junction and Fourth Mile Post which are located on the main highways to Colombo and Anuradhapura from Trincomalee respectively with effect Tuesday midnight.

Lorries carrying flour from Prima Milling Complex and fuel from Petroleum installation which are located in Chinabay which is about 10 km off Trincomalee town will not be allowed Wednesday to other parts of Sri Lanka. The roadblocks would be removed by the Wednesday midnight, NESA sources said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for eastern region Mr.Neville Wijesinghe said security forces would take tough stand if mischievous elements disrupt normalcy in the town.

Legal sources in Colombo said the Court of Appeal has made orderreleasing ten LTTE cadres who are now in remand on various charges. Each LTTE cadre has been released in cash bail of fifty thousand rupees with two sureties, each signing a bond for a sum of one hundred thousand rupees.

All ten LTTE cadres are kept in remand in Batticaloa. The certified copies of the Court of Appeal order have been sent to Batticaloa magistrate court only for three LTTE cadres, SLMM sources said. Batticaloa court officials have not received certified copies of orders of the Court of Appeal relating to other seven LTTE cadres. Hence releasing the LTTE cadres on bail is reported to be delayed, sources said.

In the meantime the fasting now held by relatives of two Sinhala home guards near the Clock Tower Junction in the heart of Trincomalee town demanding their release entered 29th day Tuesday, sources said.