'Civilians left Kayts due to LTTE threats' [Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 8.00 GMT]

KAYTS: Rear Admiral Upali Ranaweera, Commander of the Navy's Northern Region states that the residents in the Kayts islands leave their homes not through fear of security personnel but in fear of the LTTE threats.

A team of journalists who visited the Kayts area recently to study the current situation there had met the senior Security Forces officials as well as the civilians in the area and according to findings it is quite evident that they left their houses following the LTTE orders.

The Northern Navy Chief expressing his views said the LTTE's expulsion drive against the civilians is a premeditated plan well implemented. During the past the civilians in this area cooperated with the Navy and the Police and defied LTTE orders to evacuate. The terrorists, since the beginning of January this year, exploded several claymore bombs targeting the Navy.

In April a Claymore attack in Allaipiddi killed four Navy soldiers and wounded five Navy men. But this incident did not erupt in any clash between the security forces and the civilians in the area, said Rear Admiral Ranaweera.

In the night of May 13, 13 civilians including children were massacred in the areas of Kayts, Allaipiddi, Velani and Puliankudal. Shops, boutiques and property were burnt and the Navy intervention prevented a major catastrophe that was to occur as a result of the conflagration that followed.

According to Rear Admiral Ranaweera, this was an attack by the LTTE organisation motivated to frighten the residents and drive them away from the area. He said the other motive of the LTTE was to harm the prestige earned by the Navy by successfully facing the attack on the "Pearl Cruise" ferry.

The residents appeared to be frightened to disclose the reasons for setting fire to shops and boutiques. But a few days prior to this incident an organisation known as "Thamil Makkal Padei", had pasted posters ordering all shops and boutiques to close for three days henceforth. This is an organisation affiliated to the LTTE.

Rear Admiral Ranaweera points out that till the lapse of five days following the massacre the people did not flee away from the area and that this phenomenon itself is solid proof of the Navy's non-involvement in the massacre and a testimony to the residents' trust in the security forces.

He points out that the LTTE has ordered the people by posters to leave the area and that the people commence leaving the area only after the incident. The posters carried an order to leave the area immediately without surrendering to invaders.

He says that the people of this area fear such orders by the terrorists. Around 400 to 500 residents have left the area by now.

Police Superintendent Dinesh Karunaratne in charge of the area states that the normal life of the residents was extremely peaceful and the people were cordial with security forces and that after the massacre of May 13, people sought refuge under the Police and the Navy.

The SP said that while the people were so secure with the security personnel, the LTTE order the residents to leave the area.

The people are awe-struck under the present condition. Yet they are appreciative of the security and cooperation rendered by the Navy. M. Loganathan said that the Navy intervened to extinguish the fire in his boutique thereby preventing a massive calamity.

Courtesy Daily News, Wednesday May 24, 2006

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Last Updated Date: May  24, 2006 -8.00 GMT