LTTE front organisation issues threat in Jaffna

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, SEPT. 15. An open letter, purportedly by an organisation believed to be a front of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), that warns of dire consequences to pro-Government contestants in the forthcoming elections, is in circulation in Jaffna peninsula.

Using strong language, the letter says those involved in the ``liberation struggle'' would never forgive the ``stooges'' of the Government who were participating in the elections, and warned of ``stringent offensive action'' against them.

The letter, signed by the so-called Sangliyan Padai, names no one, but seems aimed at the former militant groups. It has singled out those in Parliament that support the extension of the Emergency in the country. On Thursday, when Parliament met in a special session to extend the Emergency three weeks after being dissolved, the five-member Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and the lone representative of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation voted against it, while the Eelam People's democratic Party (EPDP) and the People's Liberation organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) voted for it.

The letter stated that the residents of Jaffna should not succumb to the inducements of jobs and money being offered by these contestants, and has warned that anyone associating with them also stood the risk of becoming targets. It said these contestants had joined hands with the Government to inflict suffering on the Tamil people and therefore had no right to ask for votes. ``We did not need the letter to know we were under threat. That is old news for us. That is why we carry arms,'' said Mr. S. Thavarajah, EPDP parliamentarian. The party is to continue with its campaign in the peninsula as before.

The group has been under fire from the TULF, which has accused it of threatening its candidates with its muscle power. The TULF has demanded that the group should be disarmed. ``It is clear that the TULF wants us to become easy prey for the LTTE,'' said Mr. Thavarajah.

Others are treating the letter as tacit participation by the LTTE in the election. ``The letter does not say people should not vote. That means the LTTE is indirectly in the election process,'' said Mr. Varatharaja Perumal of the EPRLF, who is contesting as an independent from the peninsula.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Suicide-bomber kills 7 in Colombo
Next     : 11 agreements to be signed during Putin's visit