2ND LEAD (Adds voice, photos)

Col. Soosai: "Southern polity trapped in family centric power politics"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 September 2007, 17:03 GMT]
Col. Soosai, Liberation Tigers special commander of the Sea Tigers, addressing a gathering in Puthukkudiyiruppu, on Wednesday, to mark the 20th death anniversary of Thileepan, former LTTE political head of Jaffna district, and the 6th death anniversary of the founder of Air Tigers, Col. Shankar, said that the southern polity in Sri Lanka has repeatedly failed to demonstrate the ability to transcend itself from the family centric power politics into the politics of statesmanship, pointing at Rajapaksa brother's "family rule" in the south.



In contrast, the Tamil struggle was being led by a leadership that has demonstrated political statesmanship with highest levels of integrity with strategic intelligence, Col. Soosai said.

In his first public appearance following a boat accident in which he lost his youngest son and sustained injuries, the special commander of the Sea Tigers, praised the military medics of the Tigers for his speedy recovery that has enabled him to resume his duties.

"During the Indo-Eelam war, I was injured. Our medics didn't have enough facilities at that time. Seriously injured cadres were transferred overseas for treatment. But, our medics are capable of treating serious injuries now," he said, addressing the gathering for 25 minutes.

The event took place at Puthukkudiyiruppu Golden Jubilee Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.