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| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
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Eastern Corridor by Rashomi Silva Last week marked another relatively calm period in the uncleared East with no reports of major incidents. Continuing increased security measures and vigilance again proved to be productive for the Army when they arrested another suspected member of the LTTE pistol gang on Wednesday. "The youth carrying a Cyanide capsule roused our suspicions. Further questioning revealed that he belonged to the LTTE's highly effective pistol squad," a military official from the East said. The pistol gang members operating in the East are highly trained and the unit is believed to be one of the major arms of the LTTE. The LTTE apparently irked by some media reports in Colombo blamed the security forces and the government for trying to create a fear psychosis in the North-East. In an interview with UK based Broadcasting network Vectone, the LTTE Batticaloa leader Ramesh accused the security forces of trying to create a fear psychosis in the minds of the Eastern Tamils. "They are trying to create a situation that does not exist here," Ramesh said and warned that the LTTE would not hesitate to take 'necessary steps' if the situation continued in its present state. The truth however is that the Army made no reference to the fighting in the uncleared East or to the number of LTTE casualties. The Defence Secretary repeatedly said sections of the media was blowing the incidents out of proportion, while the information they had received only indicated there was some fighting in the uncleared East with seven or eight deaths. Air Force to purchase new aircraft The Air Force Media Coordinator Group Capt. Ajantha Silva yesterday said the Air Force was considering the possibility of purchasing a few training aircraft from China. But no final decision had been arrived at yet. He added that investigations on the recently crashed aircraft is conducted by a group of Sri Lankan and Russian professionals. It appears to be a mechanical fault of the craft. "The turbine blades have sheered off," he said but maintained it was still premature to make any comments. Black Tiger's Day The LTTE will celebrate 'Black Tigers Day' on July in memory of their suicide bombers who died for the cause. The first cadre to go on a suicide mission was 'Captain Miller' who drove a truck full of explosives to an Army camp in a school in Nelliaddy Jaffna on July 5, 1987. Since then the unit and its dead members are highly honoured and respected within the organisation and among its followers. It is believed to be highly competitive to enrol as a Black Tiger. The identity of Black Tigers is closely guarded. Meanwhile sources close to renegade rebel leader Karuna said he would enter mainstream politics. Dr. Vigneshwaran of EPPD speaking to the Sunday Observer said his leader Douglas Devananda was encouraging Karuna to shed violence and enter the democratic stream. "Karuna will form a political party of his own and we in the EPDP are supporting his decision," he said. |
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