Plea to restore STF security in Pottuvil

Local community leaders in Pottuvil have written to the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa requsting to restore Special Task Force security for the embattled Muslim village, dismissing allegations that the elite counter insurgecy arm of the police was behind the massacre of ten civilians.

The community leaders, including the Moulavi of the Akkaraipattu Jummah Grand Mosque said the recent violence in the town was a plot to damage the rapport between the locals and the STF which has been providing security to the local Muslims over a decade.

"We are well aware that this incident (killings) was a conspiracy to deter the development activities in the area and damage the relationship between the securty forces and the villages,' the local Jummah Grand Mosque stated in a letter addressed to the Defence Secretary.

The letter itself ruled out the security force's involvement in the incident while claiming that the rumours were baseless and unfounded.

"We request you to not to change (STF) security provided to the village and continue with security force's assistance to the development work in the area," the letter concluded.

Among the other local community organisations which raised concerns were Akkaraipattu Pradesha Fish Vendors United Credit Co-op Society Ltd and the Akkaraipattu Traders Association the latter has writen to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, Special Task Force Commandant D.I.G. Nimal Lewke strongly defended the Officer in Charge of Sastravelu STF camp.

"There are strong political manuering and unscrupulous business interests behind sending monatarily influenced youth against the LTTE," said the STF commandant.

"From the day first they were demanding to remove him, because he acted taugh against illiit timber dealers"

The sole surviour of the massacre Kareem Meera Mohideen (60) warded at the Ampara hospital earlier told police that about twenty LTTE cadres attacked the victims with clubs and knives.