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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Published on - 1/4/2005

LTTE MOBS BAR TSUNAMI REFUGEES FROM TALKING TO TOP-LEVEL MINISTERIAL DELEGATION

Troops in the 52 Division in Jaffna peninsula were compelled to mediate and provide security to a team of media personnel, including a couple of foreign journalists when some LTTE men along with a section of Tsunami-affected refugees began to chase and assault them at the LTTE's behest.

An entourage headed by Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse flew to Jaffna Thursday (30) morning and visited Puloly Vidyalaya in Velvettiturai with a view to learning hardships of the refugees housed there and their harrowing tales of agony. While the entourage was engaged in exchanging views with the refugees, an LTTE team on a loud-speaker fixed vehicle suddenly showed up and ordered some 750-strong refugee team sheltered there to immediately abstain from talking to the delegation or accepting any humanitarian assistance from the state.

Simultaneously, LTTE mobs with a section of incited pro-LTTE refugees went on the rampage inside and began to assault media men indiscriminately who were there to cover the premier's visit to the refugees. Those incited mobs brandishing clubs, sand-filled bottles and sticks went on assaulting and manhandled Rev.James, Parish priest for the area who came forward and spoke to the delegation, journalists of the Premier's media unit, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Sirasa TV and also a few others. Some of them banged even vehicles of Media men and camera equipment. In the melee, one of the media men and an Army officer received severe beating and were referred to medical treatment.

The Security Forces whisked away the ministerial delegation and media men to the nearest 52 Division Headquarters immediately after the incident and barricaded the road.

However, minutes after the ministerial delegation left the 52 Division Headquarters to carry on with the rest of their itinerary in the Jaffna peninsula, LTTE mobs stormed the barricade and demanded the removal of it. Nevertheless the situation was brought under control by curbing further spread of LTTE incited violence.

The incident was witnessed by several media men of foreign agencies, Divisional Secretary for Jaffna, Mr S. Pathmanadan, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna Major General S. D. Tennakoon and a few other high ranking officials.