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Uncertainty facing Muttur Muslims

By Aamna Mahboob

The deadline for Muslims to leave their houses has come and gone and life is returning to normal in Muttur and other areas where Muslims are in the majority.

Two land mines weighing 60 kgs recovered from under a culvert at Thandikulam in Vavuniya being inspected by the Army

However fears of some untoward incident taking place remotely persists but the government has asked the people in the area to remain in their homes and assured the Muslims the government would provide security. Muslim Council President N.M. Ameen when contacted said some 45 families have moved to government controlled areas.

“People stay in their homes during day time but with the approach of darkness they move out of their homes to Churches, Temples, Mosques or schools in search of safety and security.” he said.
An organisation calling itself the Tamil Eelam Motherland Retrieval Force had distributed leaflets warning the Muslim community living at Muttur in the Trincomalee district to leave the area within 72 hours or face dire consequences.

The people in the area say the LTTE was behind this move though the LTTE denied these leaflets were issued by it.

But the residents find it hard to believe in the Tiger denial saying it was no one else but the LTTE which was behind the move to distribute the leaflets.

With the LTTE due to go to Oslo next week for talks on the security issue facing the SLMM, the people are waiting and hoping something positive will come out of these talks.

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