Enforced sympathy?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Members of the public, including Sri Lanka Government officials, are forced to sign a condolence book kept open for Major General Larry Wijeratne, Brigade Commander, 524 Brigade of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), at a checkpoint at Vallipuram, near Pt. Pedro, in Vadamaradchi, 34 km north of Jaffna, said sources.

The checkpoint is at the border that separates areas under SLA control and that which is in the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

Most of the members of the public who are compelled to sign the condolence book at the checkpoint are those who cross from the territory under the LTTE to the other side, said sources.

They have to sign the book after they are checked by SLA personnel, said sources.

Eastern Vadamaradchi is under LTTE control.

Meanwhile, the SLA had set up road checkposts in Pt. Pedro in the Vadamaradchi today. The SLA checked the identity of the people and searched their bags.

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