EPDP snubs official inquiry

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 June 2002, 02:42 GMT]
A Tamil paramilitary organisation whose armed cadres are accused of assaulting senior political cadres of the Liberation Tigers snubbed a request by a Sri Lankan government board to send representatives to an inquiry into the incident, press reports said Saturday. Cadres of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) along with army and naval personnel are accused of assaulting the LTTE’s top political cadre in the islets of the Jaffna and one his team members, on June 21.

A 3-member board appointed by the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry Friday started an inquiry into the attack on LTTE political cadres in Velanai (Kayts). Official requests to appear were sent to the LTTE and the EPDP, but the paramilitary group’s representatives failed to appear in the inquiry, the Sudar Oli reported Saturday.

The inquiry was held at the Siththathirai Matha Temple from 10 am to 4 pm. The board of inquiry comprised Rear Admiral I. D. Dharmapiriya (Chairman), Senior Superintendent of Police N. J. Savangan, Lieutenant Commander R. A. C. N. Ratnayake (Secretary).

Political wing members Ilamparithi (Jaffna district leader), Semmanan (Kayts leader), and Thayalan, an activist, appeared on behalf of the LTTE. Semmanan and Thayalan were the victims in the brutal attack. Mr. Nihal Chandrasiri, Commander of the Navy for Kayts appeared on behalf of the Navy.

In addition to the testimonials from Semmanan and Thayalan, the committee also recorded statements from the owners of the home where the attack took place and their neighbours. Though the initial plan was to carry out the inquiry over two days, it was completed on Friday itself, the paper reported.