PLOTE says no more 'taxes'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 February 1999, 20:43 GMT]
Mr. N.Manickadasan, the military wing leader and Vice President of the paramilitary group, PLOTE, told the press that since February 1 his group had stopped levying tax from traders in Vavuniya town. The press conference was held at Kovilkulam in one of the PLOTE camps.

Mr. Manickadasan confirmed that the clash with TELO had been over the rights to levy taxes from local business men.

He said that his group had been raising funds from taxes, donations and loans from the traders in Vavuniya.

He further said that the loans will be paid back by the end of this month.

The paramilitary leader also said that the various civil organisations in Vavuniya should continue to stress the importance of not fighting each other to the paramilitaries. The civil organisations should also form a monitoring committee to help ease the tension in the area, Mr. Manickadasan said.

The PLOTE leader also said that 8 members of his group had been arrested by the Police and all of them were remanded in Anuradhapura.