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| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
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From the Tamil press by S.Selvakumar LTTE's former Eastern Commander Karuna's arrival in Colombo with the help of a UNP Parliamentarian and the interview given by LTTE woman cadre in Batticaloa and government's position on this matter were highlighted in the Tamil dailies both in the private and government media. The Virakesari and Thinakkural on Tuesday gave much prominence to a press conference held in Batticaloa where LTTE's former women's wing leader Nilavini who was with renegade leader Karuna until last week described in detail all that happened from the day she left Batticaloa. She said that on arrival in Colombo Karuna along with four women including her were put up at the Hilton Hotel. From there they were moved to a large house in Nugegoda which she believed belonged to Army's Intelligence Unit. While they were in this house Karuna's wife and his two children returned from Malaysia and joined them. Nilavini went on to say Karuna wished to form a political party with the help of the Government and the military. His ambition was to disturb the peace in Batticaloa and weaken the LTTE's base in the East. She also said that several men believed to be from the military intelligence visited Karuna. She said one day last week Karuna and his wife along with the children left the Nugegoda house. On the following day she and three other girls phoned their relations in Batticaloa and arranged to meet them near the Apollo hospital from where they arrived back in Batticaloa. Nilavini also said that she has rejoined the LTTE and denied any knowledge of Karuna and his wife. She claimed she left Colombo on June 18. At the outset she said she along with Karuna's men were brought to Colombo from Trincomalee by UNF National List Parliamentarian Alizhahir Moulana and lodged at the Colombo Hilton.` The Virakesari on Wednesday said that CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman is in New Delhi and plans to meet the Indian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defence Advisor J. N. Dixit. The paper quoted the 'Hindustan Times' where its Colombo Correspondent P. K. Balachandran has reported the stalemate in starting the peace talks between the Government and the LTTE is because the former harbouring the latter's former Eastern Commander Karuna. The Thinakaran said that EPDP leader Douglas Devananda has told the BBC Tamil Service that he was in contact with Karuna. Meanwhile UNF Parliamentarian Alizhahir Moulana is expected to issue a statement on Wednesday on reports that he transported Karuna and other cadres in his vehicle from Trincomalee to Colombo. The Thinakkural quoted a Reuters report where it has been stated that the people feel scared that the peace talks will not recommence in the near future but at the same time there are no prospects of an immediate war. The Thinakkural on Thursday quoted Defence Secretary Cyril Herath as saying that Batticaloa LTTE renegade leader Karuna is no threat to the cesefire agreement and denied any knowledge of his whereabouts. The paper said that by Wednesday the rupee value has further declined by 3.2 per cent and attributed it to the tension prevailing between the Sri Lanka Army and the LTTE. The Thinakaran quoted Transport Minister Felix Perera as saying the Government will never permit bus fare hikes and in the event of a strike alternate measures would be taken to provide public transport. In an interview to the BBC Tamil service Defence Secretary Cyril Herath has said that he neither supports nor opposes Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera's statement that some Army officers may have helped LTTE's former Eastern Commander Karuna, the Thinakkural said on Friday. The Thinakaran reported that Myown Mustafa has been appointed as a UNP National List MP following the resignation of Alizhahir Moulana. The paper quoted UNP Assistant Secretary Tissa Attanayaka MP. The Virakesari said that Alizahir Moulana left for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night from where he will proceed to London. Six underaged children who volunteered to join the LTTE were handed over to their parents by Ampara LTTE political wing leader T. Kuilinban in the presence of UNICEF representatives, the Virakesari said. |
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