SLA woos Ampan villagers

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 September 1999, 03:38 GMT]
Officers at the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) camp in Ampan, Vadamaradchy East, requested the local villagers' help in providing the SLA with information about Liberation Tigers, after giving the villagers free rice, lentils, sugar, wheat flour and dried chillies, source said.

The villagers, who have been subjected to harsh treatment by the SLA until then were not surprised at this new strategy of the SLA. The local population says that the SLA's kindness is due to failure to obtain vital information on Tiger movements.

On Saturday, a public meeting was held under the leadership of the Officer-in-Charge of the Ampan camp, Shantha, at the Central Hospital building. The meeting was organized by the Officer-in-Charge of the Nagar Kovil camp.

"The public should not for any reason provide help to Liberation Tigers. Any one caught helping the Tigers will be dealt with severely. Information about the movement of Tigers should be passed to us without any delay. No one should wander during day or night into the Kandal Kaadu area where the LTTE is known to be present. Orders have been given to shoot on sight," people were told in the meeting.

"Tigers' propaganda says that the Vadamaradchy East bus service is being run by them (Tigers). This is false. The SLA is responsible for the running of the buses.

"We are certain that you will not help the Liberation Tigers. We encourage you to have cordial relationship with the soldiers," the Officers further advised the people, sources said.

The Officers then invited the public to come to the Ampan camp on Sunday morning.

The local population was promised more free supplies of food items if they co-operate with the SLA.