Tigers start political work in Jaffna islands

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 June 2002, 20:32 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers began political work in the islands of Jaffna Monday amid objections and hindrances by the Sri Lanka Navy. They were delayed at Allaipitti, the main entry point to the islands when the Sri Lanka Navy objected to the LTTE's women fighters wearing belts and refused to let them pass. The public welcomed the Tigers near the entry point when the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission resolved the issue.

A contingent of Sri Lanka Navy commandos and Police was detailed to cover the LTTE's program in Kayts Monday. The Tigers, accompanied by local residents, visited the memorial for their war dead at Saatti, razed to the ground by the Sri Lanka army in 1990.

The Tigers took their cyanide capsules and cameras under the agreement reached with Colombo for starting political work in the islands. The LTTE addressed public meetings in Thambaati, Melinjimunai and Thuraiyoor in the island of Kayts.

Left: Sri Lanka Navy officer Lt. Commander M. A. N Shanthasri telling the head of LTTE's juidicial division 'Para' that he cannot let the go beyond Velanai junction and Lt. Commander M. A. N Shanthasri with a member of the SLMM at Saatti.

The Sri Lanka Navy commandos and Police who followed the LTTE political division officials were led by Lt. Commander M. A. N Shanthasri, the commanding officer of the Kayts Sri Lanka Navy Camp.

Residents of Velanai said that armed cadres of the Tamil paramilitary group working with the SLN in the islands had threatened local community leaders to keep away from the LTTE meetings.

LTTE officials Paappa and Seralaathan blocked by SLN troops on the road to Saatti. (Photo: TamilNet)

They also alleged that SLN troops and Police had been deployed in strength in Kayts to scare and dissuade the public from gathering in numbers to meet the Tigers.

However, the SLN officer Lt. Com. Shanthasri insisted that the troops and Police wee deployed to provide security to the LTTE and to prevent any untoward incidents.

The SLN attempted to stop the Tigers from taking the road to Saatti and later refused to let them pass beyond Velanai junction. The head of the LTTE's judicial division, Mr. Pararajasingham and the SLMM discussed and resolved the problem with Commander M. A. N Shanthasri.

The LTTE was hosted to lunch by the villagers of Thambaatti.

(Left) Mr.S.Ilamparithi, the head of the LTTE's political division for the Jaffna district and the head of the LTTE's political division for the islands, Mr. Semmanan, addressing the rally at Thuraiyoor.

More than a thousand people gathered at the Thuraiyoor community centre in the evening to hear the LTTE leaders speak on the current peace process.

Mr.S.Ilamparithi, the head of the LTTE's political division for the Jaffna district, the head of the LTTE's judicial division Mr. Para Pararajasingham, Ms. Thamilvili, the head of the LTTE women's political division for Jaffna, the head of the Voice of Tigers, Mr. Thamilanpan, the head of the LTTE's political division for islands, Mr. Semmanan, and senior political division officials, Mr. Veeman, Mr. Paapa and Mr. Elilan took part in the meetings in Kayts today.

Tiger officials and members of the public paying homage to the war dead at the Saatti memorial (Photo:TamilNet)

The SLN check point at Pannai in Jaffna town. All persons coming from the islands to Jaffna are checked here. (Photo:TamilNet)

Allaipitti (Photo:TamilNet)