Government in full control of Muttur

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Muttur town is under the total control of the Security Forces, Government Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said.

"The LTTE had fired artillery and mortars towards the Defence establishments and public institutions around 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday. At present small groups of LTTE cadres are sheltered among the civilian population and small business houses and are directing firing using small arms," the Minister told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday.

The Minister categorically denied rumours and Tamil Net reports that the Police Station was totally overrun together with three military camps in Muttur. "This is a totally false and fabricated news item," he said.

"What happened was eight Policemen on duty at the Police post in the centre of the Muttur town vacated that spot and returned to the Police Station. Tamil Net and some foreign news agencies created a totally false news that the Police was totally over run to mislead the public."

The Minister said the Government could completely control the situation in Muttur within a few hours. The fact is that the LTTE is firing on public buildings and Defence establishments using small arms taking cover under human shelters particularly amongst the Muslim community in Muttur. Therefore, the Government has to conduct its operations by safeguarding the lives of the people.

The most important fact is that the public have been very cooperative and information is flowing to the Government Defence authorities on the locations occupied by the LTTE cadres operating in small groups.

"This clearly indicates the total manifestation of public support to the Government and the disapproval among the public to the terrorist activities taking place in Muttur."

The Minister said the Telecom building and the Mahindapura hospital have been damaged due to LTTE attacks.

Meanwhile, the Security Forces engaged in its mission to wrest the Mavilaru anicut have succeeded in reaching the western gate of the water sluice, the Government said yesterday.

"The forces who approached Mavilaru from the west reached the tank's western gate last evening (August 2). They were also able to establish connection with the Kallaru army camp. But the journey towards the eastern gate is tough and slow owing to the mine fields and other obstacles placed by the LTTE," the Government Defence Spokesman said.

The Minister said the Forces were moving forward cautiously since the tank is situated in an open space vulnerable to mortar attacks.

Reiterating that the mission was not a military operation, Rambukwella said that the effort to open the anicut shut off by the LTTE was purely a humanitarian mission and a disaster control measure.

"Around 15,000 families living in the area have been deprived of water. The livelihood of most of these people are totally dependent on agriculture. It is the duty of a sovereign government to provide them with water for drinking and cultivating purposes," he said adding that if the Government ignores its duty the people will become internally displaced.

Referring to the LTTE's claim that the anicut was closed due to the Government's failure to erect a water tower, the Minister said it was the LTTE's activities in the area that have prevented the construction of the tower as agreed.

"Constructing a water tower for around 45,000 families involves a process including evaluation, calling tenders. But this process was not possible owing to the LTTE presence in that area. If the conducive conditions are created the project could be started immediately," he said.

According to the defence spokesman, eight persons have been killed and 50 injured in the fighting since Wednesday.

The dead include three army personnel, three Navy personnel, one Air Force personnel and one civilian.