SLA threats stop war-dead remembrance

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 June 2002, 18:16 GMT]
A function in Pt. Pedro, Jaffna, to mark the death anniversary of an officer of the Liberation Tigers had to be abandoned by his relatives and friends Sunday following intimidation and death threats by the intelligence unit of the Sri Lanka Army's 524 Brigade, residents said.

Soldiers from the unit in Pt. Pedro town, led by their officer in charge had visited many villages in the Vadamaradchi Division of Jaffna this weekend and warned residents of dire consequences if they dared to have ceremonies for observing the death anniversary of Major Salaam, a LTTE officer who was killed in combat with the SLA.



The army intelligence group had threatened the residents of Aathikoviladi in Valvettithurai that it had all their names and hence they cannot escape severe punishment if they observed Maj. Salaam's death anniversary, sources said.

"There is peace now. We should have the right to remember our loved ones. If the army cannot respect our feelings and let us honour our war dead then how can we have faith in this peace process?", asks a close relative of Major Salaam who was involved in organising the function Sunday.