2ND LEAD

Colombo plans forced ‘militarisation’ of ex-LTTE members

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 September 2013, 09:09 GMT]
In a shocking revelation, it is reported that former LTTE members – both men and women – are being intimidated to join the SL military in the East. The paramilitary operatives of Karuna and Pillaiyan groups are being used by the SL military intelligence for this purpose. The former Tiger fighters are threatened that their parents would be in danger if they refuse to join the military. The intelligence operatives have been conducting door-to-door campaign in areas including Vaakarai, Vellaave'li, Kudumpi-malai and Veappa-vedduvaan in Batticoala district intimidating the former Tiger fighters in order to enlist them for the occupying SL military.

The ex-LTTE members have been subjected to untold miseries in detention camps in the guise of rehabilitation by the occupying SL military and have settled with their families upon release. Some of them have got married after the release.

Under the circumstances, the ex-LTTE members are now being forced to join the SL military ranks failing which they are told that their parents would face dire consequences.

It is reported that every paramilitary operative in Karuna and Pillaiyan groups have been instructed by their paymasters, the SL military intelligence, to enlist at least two former Tiger members in a month, failing which they would be losing their monthly salaries.

Hence, the Karuna and Pillaiyan groups have been forcing men and women, married and unmarried ex-LTTE members, to join the SL military.

Not knowing where to report about the forced enlistments, the Tamils in Paduvaankarai and Vaakarai areas have been living under constant state of panic, civil sources told TamilNet Friday.

It is also reported that the SL military intelligence personnel have been keeping surveillance over the movements of former Tiger members who have been released from the detention camps where they were subjected to inhuman torture.

A former woman fighter said that the SL intelligence had conducted an inquiry about a family that had visited her to extend invitation for a wedding.

The former LTTE members have been beneficiaries of some livelihood schemes given by some non governmental organizations. It is reported that the military intelligence is holding enquiries in the houses soon after they have been visited by the representatives of these NGOs.

The former Tiger cadres are also forced to sign some documents in Sinhala by the military personnel who visit them every month or once in every two months. The documents are false receipts that the signatories had received assistance offered to them. But, the former LTTE cadres are not informed of the content of these papers, which are in Sinhala.

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