LTTE blames SLN for sabotaging peace efforts

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 June 2002, 22:35 GMT]
The Jaffna district political unit of the Liberation Tigers Friday issued a statement condemning the brutal attack carried out jointly by the Sri Lanka Navy and the para military group Eelam People's Democratic Party.

(EPDP) on two of their cadres, Mr. Semmanan, the political leader in the islands and Mr. Thayalan, a political activist.

The statement said that the attack had been made with the intention of killing the LTTE political activists who have come unarmed to do political work in the army controlled areas.

The text of the statement follows:

"Mr.Semmanan and Mr. Thayalan were brutally attacked Thursday night at about 9 p.m. at the Velanai bus company junction by Sri Lanka Navy personnel and the anti-national element, EPDP, with the sole intention of killing them. The SLN personnel and the anti-national group fled from the scene when the people of the area raised cries and rushed to the scene.

"This incident has shocked and dismayed those who are working for peace. The attack has been viewed as a threat to the lives of the LTTE cadres who have come to the army-controlled areas to do political work under the ceasefire agreement.

"This attack has come as an obstacle at a time when the LTTE is working hard to achieve its goal through peaceful means, eschewing war.

"The Velanai incident has proved that the Sri Lanka Navy is all out to suppress the upsurge and the freedom struggle of the Tamil people through arms.

"The State armed forces and those anti-national elements should abandon their attempt to sabotage the peace process and the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. They should instead come forward to support the present peace efforts."