Mystery Posters To Defuse Suicide Bombers

Mysterious posters appeared in certain areas in Colombo yesterday, telling would-be suicide bombers that "Like everybody else they too have a right to live" and offering them huge incentives if they gave up their destructive mission.

In the posters which appeared mainly in Kotahena and Wellawatte would-be bombers were offered Rs. 10 million or the equivalent in US dollars for a new life here or overseas.

The posters urged the bombers to understand that life was precious and LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran should sacrifice his son or daughter if he was sincere about the Tamil cause.

Would-be suicide bombers have been urged to call telephone number 1233 if they have been tasked to carry out a suicide attack saying security would be provided to them if they surrendered.

The posters said would-be suicide bombers who provided information were assured full confidentiality and told they could also be sent overseas with their immediate families if they so desired for security reasons.

However the source or from where the movie posters originated could not be verified as these particulars were not mentioned.

The 118 emergency unit when contacted said it was not aware of such posters and said it would launch a probe to check the source of the posters.

March 18, 2008