Categorically rejecting the accusation by the Sri Lankan government that Liberation Tigers had abducted and killed Muslim civilians during the fighting in Muthur, the LTTE said Colombo was trying to divert attention from its military setbacks.
Amid reports Sri Lankan troops had shot dead fifteen aid workers in Muttur, the defence ministry in Colombo claimed that the Tigers had massacred at least 100 Muslim men whom they suspected had told security forces about the their movements.
But the Political Head of the LTTE, S. P. Thamilchelvan told reporters said that Sri Lanka’s accusation is a total fabrication and that Sri Lankan artillery had wiped out a group of Muslims and LTTE cadres investigating their identities.
“During the humanitarian crisis precipitated by the Muthur clashes, we were creating safe passages near Pachchanoor area for Muslim civilians to move out of the battle areas,” Mr. Thamilchelvan said.
“Our fighters identified and apprehended [Muslim] paramilitaries trying to infiltrate through the safe passages we created for civilians.
“While our fighters were interrogating some paramilitaries, the compound came under Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombardment. No one, including our cadres, emerged alive from that compound,” he said.
“Colombo is trying to twist this incident to claim a massacre was carried out by our cadres,” Mr. Thamilchelvan said.
“We have no compulsion to arrest Muslim youths. Our main mission [in Muttur] was against, and targeted towards, the occupation forces of Sri Lanka Government.”
Meanwhile, the LTTE denied claims that they had arrested 100 suspected Muslim paramilitaries.
“More than 100 innocent youths were detained by the LTTE while they were fleeing to safer places,” Rauf Hakeem leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), told reporters.
Amid reports Sri Lankan troops had shot dead fifteen aid workers in Muttur, the defence ministry in Colombo claimed that the Tigers had massacred at least 100 Muslim men whom they suspected had told security forces about the their movements.
But the Political Head of the LTTE, S. P. Thamilchelvan told reporters said that Sri Lanka’s accusation is a total fabrication and that Sri Lankan artillery had wiped out a group of Muslims and LTTE cadres investigating their identities.
“During the humanitarian crisis precipitated by the Muthur clashes, we were creating safe passages near Pachchanoor area for Muslim civilians to move out of the battle areas,” Mr. Thamilchelvan said.
“Our fighters identified and apprehended [Muslim] paramilitaries trying to infiltrate through the safe passages we created for civilians.
“While our fighters were interrogating some paramilitaries, the compound came under Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombardment. No one, including our cadres, emerged alive from that compound,” he said.
“Colombo is trying to twist this incident to claim a massacre was carried out by our cadres,” Mr. Thamilchelvan said.
“We have no compulsion to arrest Muslim youths. Our main mission [in Muttur] was against, and targeted towards, the occupation forces of Sri Lanka Government.”
Meanwhile, the LTTE denied claims that they had arrested 100 suspected Muslim paramilitaries.
“More than 100 innocent youths were detained by the LTTE while they were fleeing to safer places,” Rauf Hakeem leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), told reporters.
