LTTE demands release of political official

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 June 2003, 11:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) demanded the release of its Puliyanthivu, Batticaloa district head of political wing, Sathiyaraj, as a condition for releasing the two Sri Lanka Police officers LTTE arrested in Chenkaladi Tuesday, security sources in Batticaloa said.

Sathiyaraj was arrested by Razeek group members on 5 June in Putur and was handed over to Sri Lanka Police. Sathiyaraj was produced in courts and is currently in remand accused of killing Navasooriyam of Razeek group recently in Putur.

LTTE said that it condemns the arrest of Sathiyaraj while he was unarmed and was engaged in political work and demanded that he is released immediately.

Sources say that the members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) are meeting with the LTTE officials to discuss the matter.