Tigers launch drive to stop drug abuse and AIDS in Mannar

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Tigers launch drive to stop drug abuse in Mannar

[TamilNet, January 08, 2004 13:45 GMT]

The Liberation Tigers have launched a concerted campaign against drug

abuse and AIDS in the Mannar District, Mr. S. Thangan, deputy leader

of the political division of the Liberation Tigers, said

Thursday. " Drug abuse has been on the increase in this district in

recent times. It will ruin the moral fabric of our society. The

problem is acute here because Mannar has become a key transit point

for drug smuggling between India and Sri Lanka " , Mr. Thangan told

TamilNet. He is currently in Mannar to expedite the campaign.

The Liberation Tigers declared an Awareness Week against drug abuse

and AIDS from Wednesday in Mannar.

" Heroin, opium and marijuana are widely available here. We will do

everything possible to stop the influx and abuse of these drugs in

Mannar " , the deputy leader of the LTTE's political division said.

Mr. Thangan appealed to local and international media to support the

LTTE's campaign against drug abuse and AIDS.

He said the threat of AIDS is real in the district.

The first phase of the campaign, which began yesterday, will continue

until 11 January, according to Mr. Thangan.

Students from the Jaffna University and its Vavuniya campus, members

of the Tamil Eelam Health Services and the LTTE's politicial offices

in Mannar, activists from the Tamil rehabilitation Organisation and a

large number of civilian volunteers are taking part in the campaign

in those areas of the district controlled by the Government of Sri

Lanka.

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