Families of LTTE cadres protest against terrorist rule in Wanni

Families of dead LTTE cadres and of those who are currently in the outfit, staged a massive protest against the LTTE leadership in Wanni last morning (Dec 1), a defence.lk source in Wanni reveal.

According to the source, over 80 members of Mahaweera and Porali families participated in the protest held around 11 AM at the Oddusudan junction.

"The protesters had arrived from Mullaittivu, Puthukuduirruppu and Vishwamadhu areas, and they wanted to move into the government controlled areas."

The sources further said that the LTTE cadres at gun point prohibited the group of civilians moving beyond the Oddusuddan junction.

"LTTE cadres threatened the civilians that they would be shot to death if they dare to move towards Mankulam where they can meet the security force members"

"It was only after their failed attempt to convince the LTTE that they should be allowed to move as they had already given their family members for the outfit, that they started their protest" the source said.

LTTE has labeled the families of dead LTTE cadres as Mahaweera and families of those who are still in the outfit as Porali. The outfit has promised special favours for these families including more food and freedom of movement in lieu of their loved ones conscripted by the outfit.

"The civilians were heard snapping out the LTTE cadres that the LTTE leader has cheated them", the source said.

"We are asking for nothing, but let our remaining children live free from this madness" was the main demand of the civilians, the source added.

Explaining further, our source said that LTTE usually promises family members not to take another when they conscript one from them.

"However, the LTTE leader has never kept this promise... his recruiters usually grab the young when they barely reach 12 years of age"

"These people had come this far after quarrelling with the LTTE cadres in their areas. The LTTE leadership launched a special operation to prevent them from seeking refuge with armed forces"

"If they had reached the government controlled areas , it would have been a great blow for LTTE as they would reveal the true nature of the LTTE cruelty", the sources added.

LTTE is known to be one of the terrorist organizations in the world that use child soldiers in combat. The pictures were found in the possession of an LTTE cadre recently taken into custody. He said that the photos were taken during a conscription session conducted by the LTTE at a government school in Mullaittivu. The photos show how teenage girls in school uniforms were given training on T-56 riffles and Rocket Propellar Grenade (RPG) weapons.