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Sri Lanka closes checkpoint, preventing Tamils from voting
The Sri Lankan military has decided to close a military checkpoint in the north of the island, preventing thousands of minority Tamils from voting in the general election.
Tamils in areas held by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been told to use another checkpoint to cross to the government-held town of Vavuniya where they are entitled to vote.
The military said the blockade was ordered to prevent Tamil Tiger guerrillas pretending to be voters and infiltrating Vavuniya, north of the capital Colombo.
They said the move would affect some 60-thousand people who had been expected to make the crossing to vote in Vavuniya.
Earlier in the day, the military had arranged to deploy additional troops to screen people at the checkpoint in anticipation of a rush of voters.
5/12/01 6:12:13 | ABC Radio Australia News
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