'Hartal' in Mutur condemning Navy atrocities

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 May 2002, 21:06 GMT]
More than fifteen thousand people took part in demonstrations and public rallies held Saturday in Mutur east, south and west protesting against the shooting incident by the Sri Lanka Navy in Nilaveli, about 14 km north of Trincomalee town, wounding two Tamil women on April 29th night. A 'hartal' (general shut down of shops and other institutions) was also observed Saturday in the Mutur and Eechilampattai divisions covering LTTE held areas and army controlled areas, sources said.

In the morning people from Kaddaiparichchan, Pallikudiyiruppu, Thangapuram, Chenaiyoor, Sampoor, Koonithivu, Soodaikudah, Ilakanthai, Paattalipuram, Veeramanagar, Nallur, Malaimunthal, Santhosapuram in the Mutur east marched towards Navalady grounds at Kadatkaraichcenai.

Marimuttu Pechimuttu, who was wounded in the shooting incident at Intensive Care Unit, Trincomalee base hospital.(Photo: TamilNet)

They shouted slogans and carried placards demanding the government to take stern steps to punish errant members of state's armed forces who violate the ceasefire agreement. A public rally was held around 11 a.m. at Navalady grounds.

In the afternoon, people from Lingapuram, Aathiammankerni, Thanganagar, Killiveddy, Paarathipuram, Menkamam, Munnampodiveddai, Sri Narayanapuram, Paalathoppur, Paalathadichchenai, Pattithidal, Paachchanoor, Maanchenai, Peruveli, Mallikaithivu, Kanguveli, Puliadicholai, Ralkuli, Navalady in Mutur south and Mutur town marched towards Paattithidal grounds. A public rally was held around five in the evening.

The organisers announced at the end of public rallies that they have requested the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee to take immediate steps to stop cease-fire violations by the State armed forces in the district and to inform the government that some chauvinist elements in the Sri Lankan security forces in Trincomalee district are trying to sabotage the ongoing peace efforts.

Two memoranda to this effect have been handed over to the SLMM with copies to Secretary General of the United Nations, the President, the Prime Minister, the Head delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Trincomalee District Army Coordinating Officer, Trincomalee Naval Commander, Trincomalee Government Agent and Trincomalee district parliamentarian Mr.R.Sampanthan.

Meanwhile presidents of sixteen peace committees in Trincomalee town and some Justices of Peace (JP) Saturday evening handed over a memorandum to Attorney-at-Law Mr.K.Sivapalan, a member of the Trincomalee SLMM to be handed over to the Norwegian head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Colombo.

The memorandum has requested the Head of the SLMM to suggest to the Prime Minister to summon all the heads of State armed forces in the district to Colombo and to advise them to ensure that those under their charge do not sabotage the peace process.

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