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by Trincomalee correspondent

General Secretary, TULF R. Sampanthan in a press release states that the TULF expresses its deep regret over the violence that has rocked the Mutter and Valaichenai areas in the past week.

The release: "The Tamil and Muslim people have lived together in perfect peace and harmony for centuries in the eastern province except in the period of conflict in recent times. Their daily lives are in numerous way inextricably interlinked and interdependent. The vast majority of the Tamil and Muslim people desire to live together in peace and harmony in the future too. It is incumbent that we realise that there can be no space whatever for violence amongst themselves, if our people are to co-exist with dignity and prosperity.

"The TULF appeals to the Tamil and Muslim people to forget the recent past and work unitedly to achieve permanent peace. We need to ensure that over future generations live in peace and prosperity and that they do not become the victims of meaningless violence.

"Six months have elapsed since hostilities came to an end and four months have elapsed since the Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE. Peace prevails between the armed forces of both sides who had been at war for almost two decades. every effort is being made to ensure that the prevailing peace continues and that the Government and the LTTE are able to move into the next phase of the peace process.

"It is the duty of all citizens to recognise the significant improvements that the ceasefire has brought about in civilian life despite certain shortcomings. Efforts are being made to bring about a state of normalcy in civilian life in the north east in accordance with the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement.

"The events in Muttur and Valaichenai in the past week have disturbed this environment of peace. The perpetration of the initial incidents of violence were lent upon disrupting their environment of peace. By retaliating to these incidents, however provocative citizens committed to peace have played into the hands of those mischievous elements. Counter violence bliss the distinction between the evil perpetrators of violence who intend to disrupt the environment of peace and citizens committed to peace. Such developments can have an adverse impact on the whole peace process.

"The TULF appeals to everyone committed to peace to abstain from counter violence and help identify and isolate the initial perpetrators of violence. That would be the most effective method of bringing all violence to an end.

"The TULF also appeals to the government to ensure that the law enforcement agencies act impartially and immediately under the law, to deal effectively with the initial perpetration of violence as the failure or the delay to take much effective action also contributes to counter violence." 

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