COLOMBO, Sept 4, Reuter: Rebels staged a demonstration in Sri Lanka’s eastern province on Friday in an apparent attempt to win the support of the Moslem community, residents said,
On Thursday, Moslem residents attacked Tamil Shops at Nutuc in the province after suspected Tamil rebels killed a Moslem Government officer. The town was reported calm on Friday.
Indian peacekeeping troops patrolled the province on Friday. Shops and schools closed and vehicles kept off the roads in four towns in response to a call by the leading Tamil Guerrilla group, the liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam. ‘The tigers were protesting against the arrest of some Moslem men for alleged robbery and other offences.
Residents said they were apparently trying to woo the Moslems, whose support will be crucial in the setting up of a single administrative unit for the north and east under a peace accord.
‘An elected provincial council will administer the Tamil—Dominated Northern Province and the Eastern province, populated by ‘Tamils, Moslems and Sinhalese in equal numbers.
The plan follows the accord signed between India and Sri Lanka in July to end Sri Lanka traditional homeland for which they have fought and want them merged.
The United States offered 655,000 dollars on Friday to provide urgently needed supplies for war-ravaged regions, the finance ministry said. Washington had already pledged 25,000 dollars last week.
The ministry said the money ‘would be used to resettle 10,5000 people displaced by the conflict in the Easter district of Trincomalee and to provide medical equipment and supplies for hospitals in the north and east.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1987
