The civilians in the Jaffna Peninsula can take part in the forthcoming polls without the fear of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) disrupting the elections, said Major General Anton Wijendra, the Lankan Army's Northern Commander. Maj. Gen Anton was speaking to media who were in Jaffna last week touring the areas brought under control by the armed forces in the past week.
According to Gen. Wijendra, the fall of Chavakachcheri is strategically important for the army to progress further to secure its footing in the rest of the Peninsula. "The morale of the LTTE is very low at present. The young people they push forward are compelled to go on. If they turn back they are shot. It is on this attitude that the LTTE is carrying out its operations against the armed forces," Gen. Wijendra informed. Gen. Wijendra said that all efforts would be made to ensure the safety of the civilians returning to Chavakachcheri. "We have received reports that the LTTE has threatened the civilians in Jaffna to boycott the forthcoming polls. But our success in taking control of Chavakachcheri region will ensure the smooth participation of the Jaffna civilians in the polls in a few weeks time," Gen Wijendra said. Bureau Report