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No new camps, only political offices - LTTE
By Sinniah Gurunathan in Trincomalee
The LTTE has once again reiterated that it has not put up any new military camps but only opened new political offices, in Trincomalee district, after the signing of the MoU.

Addressing a news conference here, LTTE's Trincomalee district military commander Pathuman said that the LTTE had wanted to hold the news conference at the controversial Kurankupanchchan camp (Manirasakulam camp) itself, but due to transport problems it had been forced to hold it at its political secretariat in Sampoor.
Charging that an erroneous determination by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission had turned the Kurankupanchchan camp into a controversy Mr. Pathuman said the camp had been in existence before the MoU.

Explaining the reason for calling a news conference, Trinco's LTTE political head Thilak said the main aim was to seek the assistance of the media to enlighten the masses of the country and the international community about the current situation in Trincomalee district. He said this was necessary to carry forward the peace process by not falling prey to anti-peace elements who were spreading false propaganda.

" Not a single camp has been constructed in the Trincomalee district by the LTTE since the signing of the ceasefire agreement. The allegation by anti-peace elements that the LTTE had established 13 military camps in the government controlled areas in the district has been invented to derail the peace process,” he said.

Inviting the journalists to go and see for themselves whether the LTTE had put up any new military camps, he said, "Opponents allege that we have constructed a military camp in Thoppur where Muslims live. Do you think it is prudent for us to put up camps either in Sinhala or Muslim villages?"

Answering questions regarding the imposition of taxes Thilak said the LTTE has banned the felling of trees in LTTE controlled areas just as much as the state had banned it in government controlled areas. "We impose fines on those who violate this ban. We use this money for projects to safeguard our forest resources," he said.

Answering questions on the killings of EPDP, EPRLF and PLOTE members Pathuman said those killings had taken place in government-controlled areas and the LTTE was not involved in them. " If these killings had taken place in LTTE controlled areas we would be answerable," Pathuman. said.

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