Sri Lanka

On the Island of Fear and Death As elections approach, the tide of blood surges

The shopkeeper cowers behind his counter, paralyzed by indecision and fear. Sri Lanka's presidential campaign is at its height, but in the southern town of Ambalangoda the streets are nearly deserted, save for police and army troops on patrol. Under orders to open the shops of Ambalangoda, the uniformed men move up and down the streets, using the butts of their automatic rifles to knock the locks off the shuttered storefronts. The shopkeeper would gladly comply, but that could cost him his life. A general strike has been ordered by the People's Liberation Front (J.V.P.), Sinhalese extremists who do not hesitate...

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