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Jungle Telegraph01st November 1998 |
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 False alarmSecurity in an around Parliament was tightened yesterday with Police strength being pulled out from neighbouring stations.This was after a story did the rounds that the LTTE planned to launch an attack, of all days, yesterday a day when there are no sessions. Mock-upLTTE's stepped up recruitment drive in the eastern province saw an unusual demonstration last week.It was an attack on the mock up of what was said to resemble Kilinochchi defences at Kokkadicholai in the Batticaloa district. The public who were invited to take part in what was claimed to be a celebration on the re-capture of the Kilinochchi area from the security forces. Screaming guerrillas carrying weapons fired their way through the mock up. Then came the catch line. A speaker said they were strong and now had enough and more weapons from the armoury at Kilinochchi. They were, however, short of man power. "This is the final war and you people should support us to end this," said the speaker. Many, they say, withdrew after the speech. Psy-warLTTE cadres have launched a psy war on Jaffna civilians helping the security forces.One that surfaced came in the form of posters last week in Kalaviyankadu in the outskirts of Jaffna. It named seven civilians who were called upon to cease the links with the forces. They have been warned they would face death penalty. But security forces say this is part of a psy war campaign. Date refusedIt was a case of the elderly Brigadier developing a liking for the seller and not the product.It was hand held phones. The man said he was not interested in one and the matter should have ended there. But our man kept on calling the seller, an attractive young lady. He wanted a date. When she refused, he turned angry. He threatened to bump her off. But life goes on. Not lumber jacksSome troops deployed in "Operation Jaya Sikurui" in the cleared areas of A9 (Kandy-Jaffna highway) received an unusual order this week.They have been ordered to cut down trees on either side of the highway and clear 50 metres on each side. Ahead of Vavuniya, the move entails uprooting of huge Mara and other trees. An angry Colonel remarked his men were not lumber jacks but soldiers. But the top brass want the job done though the stretch of the highway remains within the controlled areas. The reason ? Well, they want to ask the choppers to fly right above the road. At least a part of A 9 will be both land and air route. One insider said the move was intended to avoid missile threats.
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