“The LTTE, in what was seen as another orchestrated move to strain relations between the Security Forces and the public in Jaffna, once again went on inciting a section of mobs in the Jaffna town and its suburbs today after an Army tractor caused the death of a thirteen year old girl in a traffic accident near the Seylan Bank in Jaffna town,” the Army said.

The Army also pointed out, such unabated LTTE provocative acts, aimed at disrupting normalcy and jeopardizing all efforts, orientated to bring peace to the country, continue to pose a major setback to good relations now being maintained between the public and Security Forces in Jaffna peninsula.

“Those mobs, incited by the LTTE after the road accident resorted to a series of provocative and violent acts that included arson attacks on two bunkers and the SLFP political office, damage of an Air Force vehicle, blockade of roads by burning tyres, pelting stones at Security Forces, etc.

The girl on her way to her school on her newly-bought push bicycle was run over by that Army tractor returning to a camp after some work in the morning. The girl however succumbed to injuries in the Jaffna hospital while a specially dispatched Air Force helicopter awaited her to be airlifted to Colombo National Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

As mobs, incited by the LTTE began to turn violent and unruly, the Police were compelled to use minimum force to quell escalation of violence by firing shots and tear gas into the air and batton-charge in order to maintain law and order in the township.

In another location close to the supermarket, the Police had to open fire on another unruly mob, causing injuries to one of them below his knees. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Hospital sources meanwhile confirmed that dead body of an elderly man from Thinnaveli area was also brought to the Jaffna hospital around the same time. Reason for his death is yet to be ascertained.

However, as mobs began to disperse by about 5. 30 p.m. the Police with the assistance of the armed forces intensified security in trouble-torn areas after taking all necessary steps to maintain law and order. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has also been alerted,” Army added. Published: Fri Mar 4 13:49:51 EST 2005

Riot squads were deployed to Jaffna, 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of the capital, to quell the violence.

A 12-year-old girl was riding a bicycle to school when she was hit by the military vehicle and later died, military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake said.

Hundreds of people gathered after the accident demanding the driver be punished. Some threw stones at an air force vehicle accompanying the army truck, and others burned tires, Ratnayake said. Police arrested the driver, he said.

Another group attempted to set fire to an army check point. Security forces opened fire on the crowd, killing one civilian and wounding another, said Rienzie Perera, a police spokesman.

He said another group of civilians burned a political party office. Residents said police baton charged some of the protesters.

Perera said police had dispatched riot squads from the capital Colombo and the security force presence in the area was intensified.

Accidents involving military vehicles have sparked violent protests in Jaffna in the past.

The area is home to most of the island's 3.2 million Tamils and the scene of two decades of fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.

The rebels were fighting to create an independent homeland for Tamils, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese.

Despite strains, both sides have observed a Norway-brokered cease-fire signed in February 2002. However, the rebels complain that a heavy government military presence in the Jaffna area has hampered the resettlement of Tamils displaced by the civil war. Published: Fri Mar 4 09:46:57 EST 2005

The incidents were triggered after the JVP Sahana Seva Balakaya tried to build temporary houses for Sinhala tsunami refugees in the local sports stadium. Tamil residents of the town protested against the move.

Tamil residents protested against blocking out the playground preventing it from it being used by the children. The protesters cordoned off all the main roads leading to the town. A group of Sinhala residents were struggling against the road closures. More... Published: Fri Mar 4 05:08:49 EST 2005