Tigers prepare for economic development

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 May 2002, 20:07 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers are making preparations for economic development and infrastructure reconstruction in the north and east, a senior LTTE official said Friday. Mr. S. Karikalan, deputy head of the LTTE's political section, was speaking at a seminar for Government departmental heads held in Kokkaddicholai, 16 kilometres southwest of Batticaloa.

"Elements in the Sri Lanka armed forces who have been profiteering through the war, are making attempts to sabotage the peace process," Mr. Karikalan said.

"However, we are patiently abiding by the terms and conditions of the ceasefire agreement and are making preparations for economic and infrastructure development of the North and East," he said.

"Next phase of the implementation of the truce offers will pave the way for the creation of an interim administration in the North and East," he added in reference to the provisions in the agreement for LTTE political cadres to begin work in government held areas.

The LTTE has called for Tamil youth to join and support the movementís political activities. "We are calling on all youth over 18 to join us for political work. You stood by us in the liberation struggle. We have come to work among the Tamil people and to serve them politically," Mr. Karikalan told a rally at government-controlled Chenkalady, 16 kilometres north of Batticaloa last Monday.

Whilst fifty LTTE political cadres were permitted to work in government controlled areas 30 days after the truce came into effect on February 23, and another hundred were permitted 30 further days later, as of this week, there are no restrictions on their numbers. Sri Lankan military commanders have said that those who enter should get permission to function from the regional brigadiers.