Claymore discovery, a deception by SLN, SLA, says LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 December 2005, 11:49 GMT]
The alleged discovery of claymore mines by the Sri Lanka security forces in Mannar Pattithottam area and along Mannar-Madavachchi road is a canard concocted by the Security forces to create a war atmosphere in the area, said the Mannar district Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers in a press release issued Friday. "We deny any involvement in the planting of these mines and condemn the Sri Lanka security forces for creating conditions where Mannar residents can be subjected to further harassment and indiscriminate attacks," said the release.

"After the claymore explosion that killed several Sri Lanka Navy soldiers, Mannar residents have been subjected to severe harassment and attacks.

"SLN, killed four civilians including a four year old child, injured more than twenty residents of Victoria Hundred Houses scheme and looted their property.

"Many youths from Mannar district have been arrested under the cover of search operations. Many have disappeared. Their relatives have registered complaints in with Human Rights Organizations. The Security Forces have denied arresting many of the youths, raising the spectre of disappearances of the past," the Mannar political wing of the LTTE said in its release.