Withdraw army from Sri Lanka’s northeast, says TULF (Lead)
June 17th, 2011 - 8:07 pm ICT by IANSColombo, June 17 (IANS) A Tamil political party has demanded the withdrawal of Sri Lankan troops from the northeast after they allegedly assaulted Tamil MPs at a meeting of another party in the region.
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) said it “very strongly” condemned the attack by soldiers on a meeting of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Jaffna ahead of local elections.
“They assaulted people who had assembled there and chased them away and also caused damage to bicycles and motor cycles.
“Attempt was made by the soldiers to assault MPs of TNA. Even their security personnel were injured. This high-handed act of the army should stop.”
The TULF, which has previously opposed the formerly pro-Tamil Tigers TNA, said the incident showed why the army should not be deployed in the Tamil-majority northeast of Sri Lanka.
“This is why I am insisting on the withdrawal of the army from the north and the east and (an) administration by civil officers. If incidents of this nature are not (stopped), the country’s future will be bleak.”
The TNA once backed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Since the LTTE was crushed militarily in 2009, Sri Lanka has refused to cut its military presence in the northeast, the former war zone.
This has led to tensions, with Tamils saying the army was occupying land belonging to civilians — just like the LTTE did earlier. Colombo says the military presence is needed in view of persisting dangers.
- Withdraw army from Sri Lanka's northeast, says TULF - Jun 17, 2011
- Sri Lankan Tamil party accuses army of attacking its election meeting - Jun 18, 2011
- Colombo treating us like 'aborigines', Tamils tell India - Jun 13, 2011
- Tamil newspaper editor attacked in northern Sri Lanka - Jul 30, 2011
- Ahead of elections, pro-LTTE journal attacks Karunanidhi - Apr 11, 2011
- LTTE tortured and killed while fighting Indians: Book - Jul 12, 2012
- Mathai raises issue of Tamil fishermen with Sri Lanka - Oct 10, 2011
- Prabhakaran's mother dies in Sri Lanka - Feb 20, 2011
- Forget the past for Sri Lanka's good, says MP - Oct 29, 2010
- Sri Lanka admits civilian deaths during separatist war - Aug 02, 2011
- Swiss to grill Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka - Jul 27, 2012
- Sri Lanka refuses entry to Indian politicians - Feb 22, 2011
- Post-LTTE, Sri Lankan Tamil party warms up to India - Jun 14, 2009
- India wanted LTTE 'put in its place': Norway report - Nov 11, 2011
- Will get Sri Lankan Tamils their rights: Jayalalithaa - Aug 11, 2011
Tags: army, bicycles, civilians, jaffna, liberation tigers of tamil eelam, liberation tigers of tamil eelam ltte, local elections, military presence, motor cycles, mps, national alliance, security personnel, sri lankan troops, tamil tigers, tamils, tensions, tna, tulf, united liberation front, war zone