(December, 23, Mannar, Sri Lanka Guardian) Twelve Sri Lankan Tamil persons sought refugee at the Fishing Marshalling Point jointly manned by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police in Pallemunai, Mannar today (23rd December 2007) around 7.30 a.m., according to Sri Lanbka Navy sources.“The highly exhausted group arriving in a “Wallam” (a locally made fishing craft) had been shabbily dressed and showed the signs of acute starvation for they failed to speak with the naval personnel who rushed to the scene to give them assistance. They had fled Mulangawil, an area close to Vedithaltivu, around midnight yesterday to avoid capture by the LTTE cadres prowling in the area to stop civilians fleeing from their hold,” the soucres added.
During the preliminary investigation, the group had revealed that they fled Mulangawil due to the non availability of any means of living and the fear of forcible recruitment of their children by the LTTE. They had not been able to engage freely in fishing to earn their living due to the LTTE obstruction and interference. The children had been threatened with death for their refusal to join the LTTE on several occasions by LTTE cadres roaming on motor bicycles in the area, navy sources also said.
The group, six males and six females, consists of three families and a lady aged 40. The youngest of the group is a one-year-old baby boy. There are a teenage boy of 16 and two youth, a male aged 24 and a female aged 22. The families have claimed that they have no relatives to ask for shelter and protection.
The group was directed to the Pallemunai Police Post for further action.
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