"LTTE will emerge victorious if SL Government launches war"- Ilamparithi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 2004, 16:59 GMT]
"We are certain of victory if the Sri Lanka Government launches a war to occupy our traditional homeland," said Mr.C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) addressing "Confluence (Sangamam)" event of the Jaffna District Tamil Resurgence Forum (JDTRF) held in Nelliyady, a residential town 25km northwest of Jaffna, Saturday.

Mr. Ilamparithi further said, "Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge is not keen in maintaining the current peace environment. Her deeds and words are leading Sri Lanka to renewed hostility and war."

Ms Kumaratunge is making every effort to tilt the military balance between the security forces and Liberation Tigers in her favor. Purchase of naval ships, procurement of new military arsenal and training her military are testimony to her plans for renewed hostilities. She is also involved in creating divisions within the Tamil community by using the renegade Karuna who is now a virtual prisoner with the Sri Lanka intelligence division.

However, she is now realizing that her tactics using the renegade commander is not likely to payoff and would not help to advance her interests, Ilamparithi said.

Sinhalese and Muslim political leaders are only worried about their political future and not of their people. Sinhalese dominated Sri Lanka Army located in the northeast is working on an agenda of destroying the Tamil people, said Mr.Ilamparuthi.

The "Sangamam" event commenced Saturday morning with lighting of general flame of sacrifice by Political Head of Vadamarachchi division LTTE, Mr.Thaya.

Mr. S.Kanapathipillai, father of martyr Roaum and Mr. Semmanan, Deputy Political Head of the Jaffna district, hoisted the Tiger flag.

Flames of sacrifice were lit in front of the photographs of Captain Miller, Lt.Thileepan, first woman LTTE martyr Lt.Malathi and Annai Poopathi, sources said

JDTRF President Mr. Solomon Cyril presided. Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians Messrs N.Raviraj, S.Gajendran, S.Sivanesan and Mr.V. Paheerathan, President of Jaffna Student Forum also spoke.