SLN arrests LTTE women cadres in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 August 2003, 10:18 GMT]
Soldiers of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) arrested two women cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who were engaged in political activities in Thiruperunthurai village in Batticaloa district yesterday, local reports said. After the intervention of LTTE’s Batticaloa political section head E. Senathirajah, the women cadres were released after 45 minutes of interrogation.

SLN claimed that the LTTE cadres were arrested for entering the High Security Zone (HSZ). Senathirajah told the SLN commander that his cadres were working at a location 400 meters from the HSZ and that he considers the arrest as an act of provocation.

The LTTE cadres said they were engaged in organizational activities related to a forthcoming ‘Public awakening’ event to be held on 23, 24 and 25th where LTTE, the area public and government officers are expected to take part.

Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Special Task Force (STF) in Akkaraipattu arrested 10 cadres of the LTTE and 15 members of the local sports club who were traveling from Veeramunai towards the LTTE office in KanjiKudichchaaru yesterday.

The arrested were released after 30 minutes when LTTE’s deputy head of political section in Amparai, Kuyilan, intervened and informed the Police officials that the team was headed for a meeting to discuss development of sports activities in the region.

Kuyilan said the increasing number of arbitrary arrests of LTTE cadres does not help efforts towards maintaining a peaceful climate, according to sources.