Paramilitary, Navy assault LTTE political worker

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 June 2002, 12:01 GMT]
A group of armed persons suspected to be troopers of the Sri Lanka Navy and cadres of a paramilitary group working with it in the islands off Jaffna assaulted and attempted to abduct the head of the Liberation Tigers' political division in Kayts, Mr.Semmanan, Thursday night, LTTE sources in Jaffna said. The armed persons had attempted to force Mr. Semmanan into a vehicle at the 'Bus Company' near the Velanai junction Thursday night around 9.15 p.m.

Mr. Semmanan, the head of the LTTE's political division for the islands. (Photo: TamilNet)

The armed persons had got away when Mr. Semmanan threatened to bite his cyanide capsule and upon seeing a crowd of people from the neighbourhood gathering gathering around them.

Residents of Velanai said that ëKaanthaní, the local leader of the paramilitary group, the Eelam peopleís Democratic Party, led the Navy troopers and paramilitary cadres who attempted to abduct Mr. Semmanan last night.

According to sources in the political office of the Liberation Tigers in Jaffna, Mr. Semmanan will hold a press conference in Velanai in the island of Kayts Friday afternoon to explain the situation consequent to the assault and abduction attempt on him by the SLN and the paramilitary group.

The Sri Lankan government agreed under article 1.8 of the ceasefire agreement with the Liberation Tigers to disarm all Tamil paramilitary groups 30 days at the latest after signing it on 24 february this year.

According to the CFA "The GOSL shall offer to integrate individuals in these units under the command and disciplinary structure of the GOSL armed forces for service away from the Northern and Eastern Province."

However, paramilitary groups working with the Sri Lankan security forces continue to be heavily armed despite a token surrender arranged by the army in March.

The office of the EPDP in Thuraiyoor in Velanai is in the background. (Photo:TamilNet)