Villagers protest STF intimidation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 August 1999, 16:58 GMT]
Residents of Pesaalai in the western sector of the Mannar island said today that they are being threatened by the commandos of the elite Special Task Force (STF) who are camped in their village.

Commandos at the Pesaalai STF camp had gone to many houses in the area last evening and this morning threatening residents with dire consequences if any harm were to befall them.

The commandos told the villagers that Pesaalai would be destroyed if anyone were to attack or harm the STF in the area.

The Liberation Tigers have recently stepped up attacks against the elite arm of the Sri Lankan security forces which is deployed in Mannar and along the Vavuniya-Mannar highway.

Twelve STF commandos including the officer in charge of one of its camp in Mannar were killed in a claymore mine attack on Wednesday near Vavuniya town.