SLMM waits, LTTE won't release cop - 'Despicable' says Kohona

The LTTE last evening went back on its word to release police Sub Inspector Bandujeewa Bopitigoda, who has been in LTTE custody for the last ten months. The ceasefire monitors who went to Kilinochchi to receive the policeman at 10 am yesterday, were kept waiting, but no LTTE representative turned up with the policeman.

At 1 p.m yesterday the Tiger spokesman Valayathan Dayanidi alias Daya Master who was discharged from hospital in Colombo passed the Omanthai entry-exit point on his return to Killinochchi after being treated at Apollo hospital. Daya Master was transported to Apollo for treatment when the government acceded to a request made by the LTTE.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Chief Ulf Henricsson was expected to meet LTTE political leader S.P.Thamilselvan last evening to press on the release of the policeman who has been held in LTTE custody for over ten months. But at the time this edition went to press there was no indication whatsoever of his release.

Earlier, the LTTE through its peace secretariat in Kilinochchi indicated that the policeman would be released as a reciprocation for the government gesture to facilitate the transport of the ailing media spokesman who suffered a stroke on Thursday. It was on the basis of this indication that the SLMM sent its personnel to receive the policeman upon his release.

However, the LTTE went back on its word, also ignoring a request made by Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph to the LTTE to release the policeman. .

Reacting to the developing situation, Peace Secretariat Chief Dr Palitha Kohona said the LTTE had acted in a "despicable manner" by going back on the earlier promise to release the policeman.

"The government behaved properly, gave treatment to Daya Master on humanitarian grounds. The LTTE does not have decency to reciprocate'', he told the Sunday Observer.

"It has gone against all acceptable norms, and behaved in the most despicable manner," he said.

"It has gone back on its word to release him (policeman) and this was only a ruse to ensure the safe passage for Daya Master," added Dr.Kohona.

The family of the policeman including wife and children meanwhile met the President yesterday morning, and were eagerly awaiting the policemen's release. They were banking on the LTTE's assurance. However, the wife who is ailing due to the pressure of the husband's incarceration, and the child, who is also sick, were in for a major disappointment.