Tamil Eelam Courts opened in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 November 2002, 18:03 GMT]
"We open our police stations and law courts in our areas only and not in areas held by the government to maintain law and order as mandated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leadership," said the head of the Tamil Eelam Judicial Service Mr.Para addressing gathering after he declared open the law courts for the Batticaloa-Ampara district in Arasadithivu Saturday.

Mr.Ramesh unveiling the name board of the law courts.

Mr.Kangai Alagan, Batticaloa district Tamil Eelam Police head lit the traditional oil lamp.Mr. Ramesh, Special Military Commander of the Batticaloa-Amparai district hoisted the Tamil Eelam national flag. Mr. Ramesh unveiled the name board of the law courts. Mr.K.Nizam, head of the Batticaloa-Amparai Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization opened the administrative office of the court.

Mr.Para further said that the sacrifice made by more than seventeen thousand LTTE cadres has paved way for the present peace environment.

"Our leader Pirapaharan is resolute in creating an environment conducive to nurturing a just, honest and moral society that enjoys peace and freedom. The police stations and courts in our area of control are institutions that help implement this vision. However some politicians are engaged in spreading false propaganda to meet their selfish motive.

Mr.Para, the head of the Tamil Eelam Judicial speaking at the function.

"We are also conscious of the intense scrutiny of our activities not only by the Sri Lankan Government but also by several Western Governments," said Para in his address.

"Today, for the people, the inconvenience of not having a Courts in Batticaloa-Ampara district has been erased. Any civilian can file a case to raise his grievance. Lawyers are appointed to assist litigants free of charge. Litigants could file cases in our District Court, Court of Appeal and Special court. Those who consider that justice has not been meted out to them by any of these courts can represent their case to our National Leader," said Mr.Para.

The first case taken up for inquiry in the newly opened Tamil Eelam Court was against a woman filed by the Tamil Eelam Police. She pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing 5 litres of kasippu (illicit liquor) and for the possession of goda used for preparing kasippu. She was charged under the amended Section 7-1 of 428 of the Tamil Eelam Criminal Procedure Code.

The first case is being heard in the court, Saturday. A woman was charged for possessing 5 litres ‘kasippu’ (illicit liquor) and possession of goda used for brewing ‘kasippu’.

The Tamil Eelam District Judge Mr.Thillai imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 and three months imprisonment suspended for a period of one year on the accused. The accused woman Mrs. Manonmany of Veeransenai, Palugamam was also ordered surety bail in a sum of Rs 5,000. The District Judge said he was imposing lenient punishment on the accused woman taking into consideration her family circumstances. The Judge further said the production and sale of Kasippu in Tamil Eelam area is banned.