OFFICES CLOSED IN YAPANAYA (99 May 26)
The government offices in Yapanaya remain to be closed on Tuesdays and Fridays under the orders of the LTTE. Last week the army asked the public servants to defy the LTTE orders but the people are reluctant to listen to the army.
The present situation in Yapanaya reminds the people the JVP threats in the period of 1987-90. Then the JVP ordered the people to close their shops to go on strikes etc., and the people did not listen to the army when the latter asked them to defy the JVP. However the situation changed dramatically after the army also threatened the people to defy the JVP at gunpoint.
Though the army could resort to terror tactics to counter the terror of the JVP they cannot do so against the LTTE in Yapanaya. There will be huge protest against the "atrocities" of the army and the counter terror steps will be stopped immediately.
While we do not want the army to engage in illegal and inhuman activities it has to be emphasised that it is the so-called moderate humanitarians who keep the LTTE going with their direct and indirect support.