Stern warnings over LTTE contact

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Government Agent (GA) Jaffna, Mr.S.Shanmuganathan convened a meeting at the Jaffna Kachcheri for all the heads of government departments in the peninsula where he told them that public officials having contacts with the Liberation Tigers would do so at their own peril said Kachcheri sources in Jaffna.

He said that public officials should not have either direct or indirect contact with the LTTE and if they were caught having a connection in the future they would have to answer for it.

A senior officer told the GA that public officials maintain contacts with the LTTE only to ensure the smooth functioning of civil administration in Jaffna.

However, GA replied that for no reason whatsoever should contact be maintained in the future said sources.

Meanwhile, the SLA commander for Jaffna town, Brig. Susantha Mendis, also warned government officials at the Jaffna Kachcheri that those who are in contact with the Liberation Tigers would be punished by the severe penalties in the (LTTE) 'ban-law'

Many government officials are said to have visited the island of Pungudutheevu recently, while on their way to the festival of the Nagapooshani Amman temple in the island of Nainaatheevuand met the LTTE.

While referring to these contacts at Pugudutheevu, he said that he did not want that to be continued. The meeting was over in just 10 minutes, said officers who attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan President has instructed Jaffna security forces commander Maj.Gen.Lionel Balagalle that he should send her a monthly report on the military and administrative situation in the peninsula.