Maheswaran meets with Nedunthivu protesters

[TamilNet, Sunday, 24 November 2002, 16:57 GMT]
In a Ministry of Defence authorized visit, the Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Mr.T.Maheswaran Sunday travelled to Nedunthivu (Delft Island) and met with the protesters who are on a fast demanding the members of the para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) vacate the island, sources said.

The Nedunthivu residents brought to the notice of the minister that six EPDP cadres now staying in the office of the Nedunthivu Divisional Secretariat (DS) Saturday night entered a house in eastern part of the village and threatened the occupants with death if fasting is not called off.

The Minister reported the matter to the Nedunthivu Police authorities and requested the Police to prevent EPDP cadres in the DS office from moving about in the village after dusk.

Minister Maheswaran directly witnessed the EPDP cadres using it as their boarding house when he went to the Neduntheivu DS office. When the minister inquired about their activities, heated argument ensued between the Minister and EPDP cadres, sources said.

Minister Mr. Maheswaran promised the villagers that he would be taking immediate steps to send enough food and other essential items. Earlier the Sri Lanka Navy had blocked a group of Jaffna University students who took foodstuff to be distributed to Nedunthivu villagers.

The Minister returned to Jaffna mainland around 5 p.m Sunday. after three-hour stay in Nedunthivu, sources said.

Sources say that of the 43 EPDP cadres who entered Nedunthivu, only 32 are now staying in the DS office and that the whereabouts of the other eleven EPDP cadres are not known.