Balasingham to resume duties

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2003, 11:05 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers’ theoretician, Mr. Anton Balasingham, whose deteriorating health compelled him to take several months of rest this year, is now well enough to resume his duties, LTTE sources confirmed to TamilNet Tuesday.

Mr. Balasingham will travel to Kilinochchi in the Vanni in January next year to meet with LTTE leader Mr. Vellupillai Pirapaharan and other senior commanders to discuss the movement’s peace strategy, the sources said.

Mr. Balasingham, who suffers from diabetes, coronary conditions and has a transplanted kidney, was advised by his doctors earlier this year against long distance travel, after being taken ill whilst visiting Kilinochchi earlier this year, the sources said.

Mr. Balasingham led the LTTE’s negotiating team to six rounds of talks with the Sri Lankan government, and his doctors had in the past expressed concern about the impact of the heavy travel on his health. The 64 year old, who lives in London, and his wife Adele, traveled monthly to Bangkok, Tokyo, Berlin and Oslo, for several days of talks.

After several months of rest at his home in south London, Mr. Balasingham, has recovered sufficiently to resume duties, the sources said.

But while confirming recent Tamil press reports that Mr. Balasingham would travel to Kilinochchi in January, the sources refused to discuss details.