'EPDP is being used to derail peace process'- Karuna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 December 2002, 16:51 GMT]
"Some elements are using the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) to derail the peace process. The return of EPDP members to Nedunthivu and recent incidents in Nelliady have clearly demonstrated the motives of such elements," Colonel Karuna, Special Commander of the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) in Batticaloa-Ampara district said Saturday.

Referring to the presence of members of the para military EPDP in the Jaffna district Colonel Karuna said "We have put forward our demand that the EPDP should be ousted from Jaffna peninsula. We have requested the authorities concerned to give their final decision at the next meeting of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalization (SDN) in this regard," Colonel Karuna told the journalists.

Colonel Karuna speaking to journalists after the meeting of the SDN at Muhamalai said that the SLA had removed several road blocks in Batticaloa district as decided at the sub committee meeting. However, in Jaffna district the progress has been very limited. He reiterated at the SDN meeting that the government should take firm decision in this regard.

If the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) failed to take steps to resettle displaced in the high security zones in Jaffna peninsula before 21st of this month as agreed at the SDN meeting, LTTE would have to take a decision whether it would be useful to participate in the future meetings of the SDN, Karuna warned.

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