Sri Lankan Gov't to Intensify Security for Muslims in East

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Sri Lankan Gov't to Intensify Security for Muslims in East

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Sri Lankan government on Tuesday assured the minority Muslim community that adequate security would be provided to them to protect them from being attacked by the Tamil Tiger rebels in the east of the country.

Rauf Hakeem, leader of the main Muslim political party, the SriLanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), held talks with Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe on Monday night and with Defense Minister Tilak Marapana on Tuesday as a series of alleged killings of Muslims by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels gripped the east in fear.

Defense Ministry officials said that the government special task force troops, the army and the police would be deployed roundthe clock in Muslim-dominated areas in the multi-ethnic eastern region.

The situation in the east became volatile following the gunningdown of two SLMC supporters by the LTTE in Sammanturai on Sunday night.

Curfew was imposed in another eastern town of Muttur due to heightened tension as a result of the LTTE's killings, abduction and assaults of Muslims.

Hakeem has warned the government of serious action if the government failed to guarantee the safety of the Muslims in the east.

The SLMC which holds 12 seats in the 225-member parliament provides Wickremesinghe's government with the parliamentary majority.

Muslims, the second largest minority community in the country after the Tamils have repeatedly accused the LTTE of continued harassment over them ever since the rebel group entered the ongoing Norwegian-brokered truce in February last year.

The Muslims protesting against LTTE atrocities brought life to a standstill in the east on Tuesday. They shut businesses and stopped public transport by blocking roads, police said.

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