Thamilchelvan calls for end to fraudulent reports

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 January 2005, 13:47 GMT]
Denying rumours that the LTTE had burnt refuges or that aid had been stolen or incorrectly distributed, the head of the Liberation Tigers political wing, Mr S.P. Thamilchelvan, called on all media organisations to visit the affected areas and verify the fact for themselves before publishing unverified stories.

"In the East, nationalistic forces and organisations are engaged in spreading false rumours," Mr Thamilchelvan told reporters after the meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador.

"Believing this, there are press reports and rumours that aid coming to Tamil areas has been hijacked, snatched and redirected, and that the Liberation Tigers have burnt some refuges, etc."

"This is not true. Humanitarian assistance endeavours continue in our homelands in a manner that is highly trustworthy. It is with the intention of disrupting this assistance that these rumours are being spread from the east," he said.

"We wish to make a request for both international and local organisations: Please come to the affected areas and see the situation for yourselves before publishing unverified stories. Publishing unverified rumours adversely affects our people, who have already been hit once by the tsunami. Please avoid publishing such falsehoods which adversely affect the victims of this disaster," urged Mr Thamilchelvan.