Impartial inquiry into civilian massacre - TULF

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 October 2000, 19:05 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has appealed to the Defense Secretary to hold an impartial inquiry into the killings of seven Tamil civilians, including a woman at Poonagar in the Ichchilampathai division of the Muttur area, south of Trincomalee, on Monday.

TULF's Secretary General Mr.R.Sampanthan, in a letter faxed to the Defense Ministry Secretary on Thursday has stated that this attack on Tamil civilians was carried out either by security personnel attached to Mahindapura army camp or by the Sinhala home guards functioning in the area.

"This attack on civilians is unwarranted and intended to intimidate Tamil civilians living in Ichchilampathai AGA division about 4000 of whom are voters at the forthcoming general election. These voters will have to come to vote at Mahindapura, travelling several miles from the Ichchilampathai AGA division wherein they reside," states Mr.Sampanthan in his letter.

"I am also informed that the body of the female was mutilated" Mr.Sampanthan said.

Mr.R.Sampanthan further states that it is imperative that stern action is taken against those responsible for the massacre of innocent Tamil civilians. It is also necessary that action be taken to ensure that the people of Ichchilampathai are assured that they will not be harmed and that they be given adequate protection, he said.

Villagers contacted by TamilNet sources said that the farmers were killed in retaliation for an attack by suspected members of the Liberation Tigers at Seruvilla on Monday morning in which two of their colleagues were killed.

Poonagar is a remote village in the Ichchilampathai division in the boarder with Mahindapura. Mahindapura is a new Sinhala settlement in the Seruvila division.