Security strengthened in Muttur

Ranil Wijayapala

TRINCOMALEE: The Security Forces and the Police yesterday intensified patrols in Muttur, Trincomalee as Muslims, confused after leaflets believed to be distributed by the LTTE threatened them to vacate the area within 72 hours, sought adequate security from the Government, military sources told the Daily News yesterday.

According to sources from Muttur, leaflets believed to be distributed by the LTTE, were seen all over the Muttur area yesterday morning threatening the Muslims to vacate the area within 72 hours.

The Muslims have been asked to leave Muttur as they have allegedly supported some groups to carry out attacks on Tamil people in the area. "Tamil Eelam" should also be relieved of Muslims, the leaflets said.

"Despite the threats the Muslims are not willing to leave the area and seek protection from the Security Forces and the Police," a military official told the Daily News.

According to available statistics the Muslim community in Muttur area constitutes 40.09 per cent of the total population exceeding over 133,000. The statistics of the 2001 census also shows that 107,559 Tamil people and 87,020 Sinhala people also living in Muttur area.

Security Forces and the Police, according to sources, were taking steps to bring this matter to the notice of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and also to the UNHCR and the international community.

"This is a serious violation of the Ceasefire Agreement and it amounts to breach of all accepted international laws," a senior military official told the Daily News.

SLMM spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir told the Daily News that the SLMM had received the hand bill distributed to the people in Muttur.

"We have to contact the LTTE and see what they have meant by this leaflet," Olafsdottir said. However, reports reaching from Muttur said despite threats no one has fled the area since the Security Forces and the Police had intensified security.

Meanwhile, the Peace Secretariat for Muslims (PSM) stated in a press release issued yesterday that they had written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa requesting him to take urgent steps to ensure the security of Muslims in the Muttur area. This follows reports of notices being distributed in Muttur asking Muslims to leave Muttur within three days or face dire consequences. The notices issued under the hand of an organisation called the "Tamil Eelam Motherland Liberation Army" has caused fear and consternation amongst the Muslims of the area.

The PSM has also called upon the LTTE Peace Secretariat to exercise its influence in the Muttur area to prevent any untoward incident happening. In a letter to the LTTE Peace Secretariat, the PSM has stressed the need to forge closer links and a better understanding between the Muslims and Tamils in order to facilitate the fulfilment of the respective aspirations of the two communities. The PSM has stressed that any untoward incidents can only place further strains on the relations between the two communities which have had cordial relations in the past.