New homeguard units raised

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 September 1999, 07:12 GMT]
Measures to enrol youth to homeguard units in Vavuniya have been taken in order to safeguard Sinhala civilians in the villages bordering Tamil and Sinhala areas, said sources.

Sources said that the walk in interviews for the Sinhala youth commenced Saturday for this purpose.

Two hundred and fifty such homeguards will be enrolled in the first batch they added.

Selected youth, both men and women, will be provided one week training and will be posted on duty in the border villages, to pose the anticipated threat from the Liberation Tigers, the sources said.

Sinhala border villagers had complained that in the wake of the attempts to attack the displaced people in Poonthoddam and Sithamparapuram (in Aasikulam) welfare centres last week, the Liberation Tigers might be provoked into attacking the Sinhala villagers.

They have further complained to the security forces that the movements of armed LTTE units had been observed in the borders.

Sources said that this security measures have been adopted to prevent attacks on Sinhala villages like that which took place in Ampara on September 18.

Sources further said that arrangements are underway to appoint armed vigilant groups as well for the purpose.

However, villagers in the Tamil villages are of the opinion that arming the Sinhala villagers only will lead to a state of heightened tension between the two communities.