The Hindu : International : Tamil National Force claims responsibility for Kousalyan's murder

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

International

International

Tamil National Force claims responsibility for Kousalyan's murder

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, FEB 10. The Tamil National Force (TNF) — a para-military group under the joint command of the leader of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), V. Muralitharan (`Col' Karuna) and the Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front (ENDLF) — today claimed responsibility for the killing of E. Kousalyan, a regional political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The claim posted on the official website of the TMVP, said the ambush on Kousalyan was a "direct attack" unlike the killings of some of the supporters of `Col.' Karuna, who were "shot when they were asleep." The claim was signed by Cheran of the Tamil National Force. Refuting the LTTE's version that the attack was carried out by para-military groups working with the Sri Lanka Army, the TNF blamed the LTTE "under the leadership of" V. Prabakaran as "the reason for not attaining Tamil Eelam" and warned that "all supporters" of Mr. Prabakaran "will be considered as traitors of the Tamils."

LTTE blames Government

Meanwhile, senior LTTE leaders, who spoke at Kousalyan's funeral in rebel-held Batticaloa today, blamed the Sri LankaGovernment for the killing. The "murder shows they have not changed. They are intent on crushing the Tamil nation by violent means," the senior LTTE leader, V. Balakumar, was quoted as saying. The political wing leaders, S.P. Tamilchelvan, E. Pararajasingham, the head of the `Tamil Eelam Judiciary,' Tamilenthi, head of the LTTE's finance wing, S. Karikalan, a former eastern LTTE leader, and Ramesh, the former LTTE Special Commander, were among those who were present at the funeral.

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