LTTE urges Muslims to be vigilant

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2000, 15:18 GMT]
In a leaflet in Tamil titled "Dear Muslim brothers/sisters" distributed widely in the Batticaloa and Amparai districts this week, the political section of the Liberation Tigers calls on Muslims to be vigilant against a campaign to foment divisions between them and the Tamil people in the east. The LTTE leaflet says that Muslims need not be concerned about "the imminent war of liberation that is soon to engulf the east."

The full text of the leaflet follows:

"Sinhala chauvinist forces are telling the Muslim people that war will breakout in the Eastern Province very soon and that the Muslims face imminent danger from the Tigers."

"They also say that in these circumstances, the Tigers will force the Muslim people out of the east. Sinhala chauvinists say that Muslim youth should join the Sri Lankan forces to fight against the Tigers to prevent this."

"Dear Muslim brothers/sisters, we urge you to think clearly about this vicious effort by the dark forces of Sinhala chauvinism".

"The Sri Lankan armed forces are suffering from a severe shortage of manpower. Sinhala youth are not ready to join the forces and sacrifice their lives. Repeated amnesties to deserters have been complete failures".

"The attempt to recruit muslim youths is the result of the failures to attract Sinhalese to the Sri Lankan armed forces".

"The Muslims should be aware that the chauvinists who are willing to join forces even with devils to destroy the Tigers, will not hesitate to ruin the cordial relationship that has existed between Tamils and Muslims for a long time".

"Muslim brothers and sisters need not be frightened of the imminent war of liberation that is soon to engulf the east".

"The few political forces which caused unfortunate incidents in the past have to bear the responsibility for the damages caused by their actions. Muslim people should identify these elements".

"Regardless of these, Tamil Eelam belongs to the Muslim and Tamil people.

"We urge your co-operation in working towards strengthening the Tamil Muslim relationship and also urge you to be vigilant in identifying the insidious designs of the Sinhala Government to bring about disharmony between the Tamil and Muslim people." the LTTE leaflet states.