PLOTE calls Hartal in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 August 1999, 06:33 GMT]
Shops were closed and streets were deserted in Vavuniya this morning in response to the Hartal called by the PLOTE today as a token protest against attacks on the people of the northern town by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Sources said there was no traffic on the roads.

The PLOTE says in a leaflet issued to explain the Hartal that the SLA was retaliating to attacks by the Liberation Tigers in the town by hurting innocent civilians.

The leaflet draws attention to recent incidents at Veppankulam and Pattaanichchi Puliyankulam, suburbs of Vavuniya, in which civilians assaulted and fired upon by the army.

"This is to express our strong objection to attacks on civilians" "We will work with the people by democratic means to stop such incidents" the PLOTE says. The group called on the army to act with greater responsibility.