Police uniforms unacceptable - EPDP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 February 1999, 20:04 GMT]
The EPDP told the Sri Lankan Security forces headquarters in Jaffna today that it will not be able to let its cadres recommended to Sri Lanka's Ministry of defence for providing security for its members and chairmen of the local government bodies wear Police assistants' uniform.

The EPDP, however, said that it is prepared to take delivery of more than 400 assault rifles to arm its cadres for the protecting the group's local government representatives in the Jaffna peninsula. (The SLA said that it will issue two assault rifles to two security guards to protect each local government member.The EPDP has the largest number of paramilitary cadres deployed in Jaffna)

EPDP sources said that if their cadre wore Sri Lankan Police uniforms at this juncture in Jaffna it might affect their current political standing among the Peninsula's people.