PLOTE disbands intelligence unit

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 May 1999, 20:57 GMT]
The military wing leader and the second in command of PLOTE, Mr.N.Manikathasan, said that the group's intelligence division was dissolved today. The announcement was by Mr. Manikathasan's secretary, Mr. Baskaran, during a press conference called today at the PLOTE office in Vavuniya.

He said the decision was taken to stress the group's intention of forging unity amongst the Tamil Parties to solve the pressing problems facing the Tamils of the island.

Mr. Baskaran said that his group had no connection with the killings of Kugan (Kugarajah), the central committee member and the Vavuniya District military leader of TELO.

"Although the PLOTE was against the activities of TELO as Kugan and Kethees were involved in the killings of two of our two key members, Thaas and S.Shanmuganathan (Vasanthan) - MP for Vavuniya District" he said.

"Mr.Manickadasan had said that the PLOTE never had any intentions to solve the dispute out of the Vavuniya district" he added.

Mr. S. Shanmuganathan was killed along with five others in a claymore mine blast at Irambaikkulam, 2 km east of Vavuniya in July last year, while Thas was killed along with 6 others in a mine attack in May last year.

Baskaran said " there is no evidence or proof that PLOTE carried out the three murders at Bambalapitiya, and inquiries are in process. But the TELO has killed four of our former cadres who had left the organisation and were leading a peaceful life with their families."

"The PLOTE is sickened by the activities of TELO after the killing of Kugan and the Sri Lankan Government had taken this opportunity to disarm the Tamil militants," Mr. Baskaran further said.

"At this juncture our Vice President feels that only tight unity among the Tamil Political Parties can solve the pressing problems of the Tamils," Mr. Baskaran told the local press.

The PLOTE and TELO are paramilitary groups that have representatives in the Sri Lankan parliament and co-operate with the Sri Lankan Army in its operations.

Meanwhile Police said that a bus belonging to the Vavuniya People's Transport Service (VPTS) was set on fire by suspected members of the Liberation Tigers at Eachchankulam, about 7 miles Northwest of Vavuniya town, around 10.30 a.m. today.

Officials have estimated the the cost of the loss at around Rs.600,000.