Colombo: A Tamil political party on Friday
objected to setting up of permanent army houses or any new
army camps in the former LTTE held Mullaitivu in Northern Sri
Lanka.
"I am frankly of the opinion that the opening of an Army
Camp at Mullaitivu as a fore-runner and the decision of the
Government to build permanent houses for the Army are
ill-timed, counterproductive and will very soon prove
disastrous", the President of Tamil United Liberation Front
(TULF), V Anandasangaree said.
"I am not that foolish as to stir up a hornet`s nest by
protesting against these moves. Whatever I do and say are
always with patriotic feelings", the veteran Tamil leader said
in a statement.
"My sincere advice is that the Government should
forthwith stop opening any more new camps in (the once LTTE
controlled) Wanni," he said.
Anandasangaree sought closing down the one already opened
and also abandon the idea of constructing permanent houses in
the North and the East for the use of the Army.
Last week, Sri Lankan army chief Jagath Jayasuriya said
permanent houses would be provided for army personnel in
Mullaittivu.
"Army personnel arriving in those areas for duty are to
be provided permanent houses and allowed to engage in
cultivation work if they so desire", Jayasuriya told a
gathering in Central Kandy last week.
"A large segment of the Army, including the Engineer
Services are constructing highways, bridges, houses,
factories, etc in those areas and this will save a lot of
money for the government", the army Commander pointed out.
Meanwhile, Anandasangaree appreciated the successful
defeat of the LTTE by the army last May.
"We had an army that fought well and defeated the LTTE.
We had a good set of civilians who gave full corporation to
the forces to defeat the LTTE, which started as a liberation
movement and later turned out to be one causing destruction of
life and property, without rhyme or reason", he said.
"The whole country suffered. I need not elaborate the
extent of damage the people in the North and the East suffered
and the hardships they underwent", Anandasangaree said.
"They do not want a similar situation to arise again in
the future. They, on their own will take up the challenge in
the event of any attempt for revival", the Tamil leader said.
"I very strongly emphasis that if these moves are not
abandoned the Government can’t boast of bringing peace to a
section of the people who had under gone immense hardships for
a long time. I am voicing the sentiments of the people", the
TULF chief said.
PTI
