Monks begin fast-to-death demanding proscription of LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 December 2006, 11:24 GMT]
Two Buddhist monks began a fast unto death protest Wednesday evening in front of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse's residence at Thangala, demanding that either the President or the Prime Minister should hand over to them the official document proscribing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Mirise Thamawanse Thero and Tenegama Thamarama Thero, the fasting monks, said that until they have the documents they will not call off their campaign.

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake, announcing a cabinet decision, Wednesday said the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would be reinstated. The Cabinet, however, did not proscribe the Tigers, disappointing the extremists who had lobbied for the proscription.