LTTE to declare National Emergency

[TamilNet, Sunday, 26 December 2004, 14:34 GMT]
To cope with the unprecedented destruction of life and property in the coastal areas of NorthEast brought about by the tsunamic waves that hit the coastal towns Sunday, the Liberation Tigers are planning to declare National Emergency to set up procedures in motion to obtain relief assistance from International Agencies, sources close to the LTTE in Vanni said.

Leader of LTTE's Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan, speaking to TamilNet said: "This is the first time Tamil people in our areas have witnessed such large scale disaster. We have recovered more than 800 bodies from the coastal shores along the the NorthEast. We are just starting to enter interior of buildings to continue the relief effort .

"Our cadres and volunteers from the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization and other civil groups are working round the clock to assist the wounded and to provide shelter to those whose houses have been washed away by the tidal waters.

"I sincerely hope that the Internation Community will respond with the necessary financial and material relief to assist our people," he added.