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| Talks
to resolve LTTE logistic problems The discussions on Tuesday centered mainly on problems regarding movements of LTTE cadres in the sea and their land crossings through Army-controlled areas to LTTE-controlled areas in the Trincomalee district, SLMM chief Major General Triggve Telefsen told The Sunday Times. The SLMM chief accompanied by his Trincomalee SLMM leader Jan Ledang had visited Sampur following complaints by the Police and security forces that armed LTTE cadres were seen crossing through Army-controlled areas at night. Later the SLMM chief told The Sunday Times that talks conducted with LTTE military commander Pathuman were constructive and fruitful. "We have worked out details for a meeting between representatives of LTTE and State armed forces on April 21 in no-man's land in Mutur," he said. The SLMM has decided to open a sub-office at Sampur to facilitate the implementation of the ceasefire agreement whenever problems arise, Maj. Gen. Telefsen said. "We have taken steps to increase the number of our monitors in the north-east to between 57 and 60. The present strength is 47. New monitors will come from the Nordic countries," he said. LTTE Trincomalee military commander Pathuman told The Sunday Times that the LTTE expects a favourable solution at the talks on April 21 to the land crossing problems to facilitate the transportation of food and medicine to its cadres in LTTE- controlled areas through Army-controlled areas. He said the ban on the movement of LTTE cadres through Army-controlled areas by the security forces has severely hampered the smooth transportation of food and medicine to cadres. 'We have been transporting food and medicine to our cadres in our areas through Army-controlled areas since the signing of the ceasefire agreement under the supervision of SLMM. Only now the security forces have banned it. “We must get a favourable solution to this problem at the proposed talks. Otherwise we have no other alternative than taking our own decision to supply our cadres with food and medicine" he said. "Soon after the signing the MoU we submitted a comprehensive report to the SLMM regarding the areas controlled by us in the Trincomalee district including Kallampathai area in the north of Trincomalee. No action was taken in this regard. For the second time a copy of that report has been handed over to the new head of the SLMM during the latest round of talks held on Tuesday," he said.
Param attached to the Jaffna EPDP office, took leave to visit his sister in Kilinochchi on March 31. Travelling in a three-wheeler he had stopped to inquire for the address. " I noticed a journalist attached to a Tamil newspaper close by. After a while LTTE cadres on a motor cycle approached me and asked if there were any EPDP members. When I confirmed who I was they arrested me" he said. He added that he was first taken to a LTTE detention centre. After two days he had been taken blindfolded to an underground bunker. "It was pitch dark, a ladder was kept outside from which we have to go down. Once inside we were not able to see anyone, we only heard voices. It was a long and narrow bunker. In the middle of it, there were ladders along which the meals were sent. Polythene bags were given for toilet facilities. There were a lot of members from other parties. When I told that I was an EPDP member, some other members too came and spoke to me. It was then that I heard men talking in Sinhala. When I inquired I was told that there are a lot of men from the Army, Air Force, Navy and police. They were all chained" he said. After two days
Param was shifted to a make-shift cell along with a PLOTE member. The escape which was planned for the early hours was done in a meticulous manner. They had used a blade to cut open the lock. The two had walked for nearly three hours until they came to a main road. " There were only two guards at the centre and they were fast asleep. The PLOTE member who is from that area took me along safe paths. He gave me directions to the SLMM office and went in another direction. I made the complaint at the SLMM office and the EPDP office was informed, but I learnt that Thamilselvan had requested the SLMM to hand me over to the LTTE. I was examined by a doctor and later handed over to the police " Param said. The EPDP had on several occasions complained of harassment and intimidation by the LTTE . EPDP spokesman S Thavaraja said that on many occasions they had complained to the SLMM and this time they had ample proof. Another victim 19 year old Ramalingam Rasa had been brutally killed last week allegedly by the LTTE while he was on his way to the hospital. Rasan's mother said that her son went missing on April 4, and later with the help of the villagers her son's body was discovered dumped in a toilet pit of an abandoned building. TV
crew attacked for 'no show' The musical show which featured the Gypsies band had Sports Minister Johnston Fernando as the chief guest. A giant TV screen was being used to giving live coverage of the show and display advertisements in between items. The argument broke out after the minister had left the stage, police said. The sponsors who had collected a large sum of money from businessmen promising that their ads will be telecast on the giant screen had allegedly failed to display the advertisements after the minister had left the place. 'Until the minister was present the advertisements were shown, but once the minister left the grounds, they had stopped. Angered over the action the businessmen had complained to the minister's supporters. The brawl erupted when the minister's supporters took up the issue with the sponsors', police said. A Sports Ministry official has been named in the complaint for allegedly attacking the three employees including the announcer of the show. The three persons were hospitalised after the attack. Police said that following the complaint they had tried to record statements from the officer who had been named, but he was not available. Two
US lawmen here soon The officers Mr. Gary Barr, Acting Deputy Director of the Justice Department's International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) and Mr. Tim Delaney, Justice Department Planning Analyst. Having over 56 years of combined police experience, they were senior police managers prior to working for ICITAP. They have also developed programs in more than thirty countries. TULF-LTTE
pow-wow put off The TULF had raised the issue of the non-appointment of teachers in the North and East despite the voluntary teachers being assured appointments. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe had agreed to look into the matter. The TNA had charged that vacancies are being filled in a biased manner ignoring the North and East. TULF General Secretary R Sampanthan told The Sunday Times that no new date has been fixed for the meeting with the LTTE. |
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