Colombo cannot disclaim responsibility for Kausalyan killing- TNA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 February 2005, 11:41 GMT]
The killings of LTTE Political Head for Batticaloa and Amparai districts Mr.E.Koushalyan, TNA former parliamentarian Mr.A. Chandra Nehru and four others on February 7 raise question as to "how such an attack was carried in an area, which has a strong Armed Forces presence. The question also arises as to who could have carried out such an attack without being deterred by the strong presence of Armed Forces," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, TNA parliamentary group leader in a statement made in parliament Wednesday morning, parliamentary sources said.

The full text of the statement follows: -

"Mr. Speaker,

I seek you leave to move the adjournment of parliament for the purpose of raising the hereinafter-stated matter of urgent public importance.

1. The former TNA Member of parliament for the Amparai district Mr.Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru, Mr.E.Koushalyan, the political leader of the LTTE for the Batticaloa and Amparai districts, three other LTTE cadres, and the driver of the vehicle in which the aforesaid persons travelled towards Batticaloa were shot and killed on 7th February 2005 around 7.45 p.m. at Pilaiyarady between Welikanda army camp and the Punnanai army camp, on the Pollonnorawa-Batticaloa road. One other LTTE cadre and two police officers who travelled in the same vehicle were injured.

2. This attack occurred in government-controlled territory in the Pollonnorawa district within the North Central Province. The following army camps exist along the main road leading to Batticaloa in close proximity to, and not too far from the scene of attack. (a) The Minneriya army camp (b) The Welikanda army camp (c) The Punnanai army camp; within the Pollonnorawa district and, (d) the Navallady army camp (c) The Valaichchenai army camp; within the Batticaloa district.

The said attack as stated earlier occurred between the Welikanda and the Punnanai army camps both of which are situated in the Pollonnorawa district. Substantial Army personnel man the aforesaid camps. Between the aforesaid army camps are several army posts also manned by army personnel.

3. This attack was clearly planned and pre-arranged. Several persons have participated in the attack, and the victims were properly targeted.

4. Other than the two police officers, none of others who travelled in the vehicle were armed. There is no evidence to suggest that there was an exchange of gunfire. The conclusion is irresistible that un-armed persons were shot and killed

5. The question arises as to how such an attack was carried in an area, which has a strong Armed Forces presence. The question also arises as to who could have carried out such an attack without being deterred by the strong presence of Armed Forces in the said area. The government cannot disclaim responsibility for an attack, which has occurred in government-controlled territory with a strong Armed Forces presence. These factors have raised serious questions in the public mind in regard to the role and/or the complicity of the government and its Armed Forces in the attack.

6. This attack is clearly aimed at destabilising the peace process. It is well known that there are some sinister forces in the country that have a vested interest in destabilizing the peace process.

7. The government's action in the past several months despite verbal assurances of a commitment to the peace process have had the effect of delaying and frustrating the furtherance of the peace process in a meaningful way.

8. Despite the tsunami disaster, and the immense destruction and devastation caused to the North East, and despite efforts being made to establish a suitable mechanism to undertake tsunami related development activities in the North East, it has not been possible to set-up such a mechanism due to delays on the part of the government.

9. This attitude on the part of the government calls into grave question the sincerity of the government's commitment to the furtherance of the peace process and even to meaningful participation by the Tamil speaking Tamil and Muslim peoples of the North East in the post-tsunami related development activities. It also encourages the commission of acts that further destabilize the peace process such as the above referred to attack of 7th February.

10. We wish to strongly impress upon the government that this unhealthy trend needs to be immediately corrected if the peace process is to have any chance of success."