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LTTE to help restore normality in east

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO JULY 2. As an uneasy calm continued for the second day in eastern Sri Lanka after last week's Tamil-Muslim clashes, the Sri Lankan army today said they had gained an assurance from the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that the rebels would "co-operate" in restoring normality in the region.

The assurance was given at a crucial meeting between high-level army and Tiger representatives in the eastern Batticaloa town. "The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss measures to bring about normality,'' a high-ranking officer in the Sri Lanka Army, who has rushed to Batticaloa to defuse the crisis, told The Hindu. The meeting was held between Major-General Sunil Tennakkoon, GOC, 23 Division, which is in command in the east, the DIG (East), Karikalan, and political leaders of the LTTE in the east.

According to the Army sources, the Tigers' representatives had said that they "were not involved'' in last week's clashes, which left 11 people dead and caused severe destruction to property, and "agreed to give 100 per cent support'' in restoring and maintaining normality. The meeting also stressed the need to view the issue as one of law and order and emphasised the importance of the role to be played by the Tigers in maintaining peace in the region.

Today's meeting is to be followed up by another meeting tomorrow between the members of the two communities, the army and the Tigers to take the initiatives to restore normality further. In addition, a meeting between Rauff Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and Mr. Karikalan is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

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