SLA warns against LTTE contact

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan security forces headquarters at Palaly in Jaffna issued a press note last night warning government officials and businessmen in the peninsula who provide assistance to the Liberation Tigers and take instructions from them.

An increasing number of government officials, businessmen and others have been visiting the island of Pungudutheevu in recent times to meet the LTTE said SLA sources in Jaffna this morning.

Most of them, according to an SLA officer, had gone to meet the LTTE in Pungudutheevu while on their way to the festival of the Nagapooshani Amman temple in the island of Nainaatheevu. (Large numbers of devotees are thronging to the festival this year say reports from Jaffna)

The following is the full text of the press note issued by General Officer Commanding (GOC) Security Forces Jaffna, signed by Major. T.A.R Dunuwille.

"Warning for (sic) the general public/government officers who assist/carry out LTTE instructions."

"In spite of warnings/instructions issued by the security forces, certain persons have gone and met the LTTE member Thooyavan in Pungudutheevu very recently and obtained instructions/agreed to provide assistance for LTTE activities. They are planning to disrupt the prevailing peace and government rehabilitation programs. We are very aware of their future intentions. It is certain that the people of Jaffna does (sic) not want violence, harassment of civilians, forced recruitment of children to return to Jaffna. We are advising you not to bring problems to Jaffna by assisting/carrying out LTTE instructions/orders and suffer the consequence."

"We will be compelled to take action against any of the government servants, businessmen and others who are violating the these instructions".