Minors being sent to LTTE defence lines

LTTE transmissions, closely monitored and transcribed by members of the Security Forces, now consolidating in and around Mannar areas bringing humiliating defeats to the terrorists, affirmed that many conscripted minors, school-goers and teachers were being sent to the LTTE defense line to the north of Madhu with sinister motives and plans, the Army said yesterday.

The Army said in a release: "Terrorist propaganda on Tuesday (29), published a distorted and false story, blaming the Army for alleged assassination of eleven schoolchildren and twenty civilians in Periyamadhu area, close to the holy Madhu shrine in an explosion triggered by the troops.

Troops in conformity with the understanding made with Madhu shrine authorities have made it a point to keep away from the holy premises despite a number of LTTE provocations directed towards the troops from time to time.

Therefore, involvement of the troops in the alleged explosion does not arise as claimed in LTTE propaganda.

The concocted LTTE publication, as its contents portray, can also be interpreted as another manifestation or a manipulation to justify their killings in the South and elsewhere as tit for tat.

It is apparent that Tiger terrorists with most of their strongholds now falling apart one after the other are intent on resorting to any mean trick in order to muster support for their fast losing credibility and the cause, both at international and local levels.

This is intentionally orchestrated for sinister moves to reinvigorate the flagging support for terrorism.

Intelligence and own LTTE transmissions reaching Mannar in the past few hours further asserted Tiger terrorists now desperate for manpower in the Mannar sector have been busy visiting schools and ordering students and teachers to help defend their localities from the troops.

Reports further confirm senior Tiger cadres hiding away from their front lines are in the habit of deploying minors and other young cadres at the front in the face of Army resistance."