Tamil Tiger Rebels say they are not Forcing Muslims to Flee Mutur

(Full Unedited text of LTTE Release)

The leaflet and the plight of Mutur Muslim people

Thousands of Mutur Muslim people are fleeing for the second time in a month following the distribution of leaflets by the so called “Tamileelam Thayaga Meedpu Padai”.

Who distributed these leaflets? Suspicions have been cast on the LTTE.

Secretary General of the LTTE Peace Secretariat, S Puleedevan, said that the LTTE is certainly not responsible for the distribution of the leaflets.

He ventured to speculate on the forces behind the distribution of the leaflet and the reasons for its distribution.

The Mutur Muslims were hurriedly resettled from the refugee camps earlier this month as non-governmental organizations warned against the haste shown by the Sri Lankan military in resettling the people. The haste in resettlement was obviously to show to the world that the Sri Lankan government is in control of Mutur following the Sampur military adventure.

It was also deemed urgent so that President Rakapakse, during his overseas visits, can claim that the hostilities are all over.

The needs of the time changed when the Sri Lankan police stand accused for the massacre of 10 Muslims in Poththuvil in Amparai. Muslim parliamentarians are standing firm on their call for an international investigation. The Sri Lankan government needed to turn the heat away from this case. The Mutur leaflet is the answer they have come up with.

Having very successfully diverted the attention, the military is now preventing the fleeing Muslim people from leaving saying as quoted in Reuters report,
"The security forces are giving protection to the civilians in Mutur, so there is no need for them to go because of this LTTE threat."

The military wins on three scores, diverting the attention, turning the anger of the Muslim people on to the LTTE, and pretending to protect the Muslim people.

24 September 2006