SLAF claims targeting LTTE gathering point; Colombo insists on participation of all political parties in future peace talks, LTTE says it is a tactic to avoid peace talks; Sri Lankan Navy
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    • Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on July 6 claimed to have launched “precision air strikes at a high-profile LTTE gathering point” in Vaddakachchi in the Kilinochchi district. A statement by the Defence Ministry noted that the raid was conducted based on real-time information. Vaddakachchi, located approximately 8 kms northeast of the Iranamadu Tank, is a part of the Kilinochchi district, which is still under LTTE control1. The pro-LTTE Tamil Net alleged that 4 civilians were wounded and six houses were damaged at Vaddakkachchi, along the Paranthan Mullaiththeevu road when two SLAF bombers attacked a residential area.

    Colombo on its part insisted that any future peace talks would take place with the participation of all Tamil political parties in the country and not solely with the LTTEThe LTTE however ruled out such a possibility stating that it would enter negotiations with only the government, through the facilitation of the Norwegians and not with the presence of any other political party in the country. LTTE’s military spokesperson Rasiah Ilanthirayan stated that the insistence on the participation of other political parties was “just another tactic to evade peace talks2. .”

    Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navy contended that the massive daily intrusion of Indian fishermen into Sri Lankan waters near Mannar and Jaffna was posing a major security threat to the northern part of the country. A navy spokesman, Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake, noted that between June 2007 – July 2008, as many as 6,839 Indian fishing boats were seen off the north Sri Lankan coast, especially near Thalaimannar, Pesalai and Delft island. He charged that these fishermen not only “poach fish, but smuggle in fuel and other war-like material for the LTTE3. .” Tamil Nadu’s fishermen however on their part complain that the Sri Lankan Navy was aggressively preventing them from exercising their ‘traditional right’ to fish in the Palk Strait, especially around Katchchativu Island, which was ceded to Sri Lanka in the 1970s.

    The LTTE also urged the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalaingnar M. Karunanidhi to come forward and assist them in their struggle to establish a Tamil Eelam state. In an interview to ‘Kumudam,’ a popular Tamil weekly from Chennai, P. Nadesan, Political Head of the LTTE called on Karunanidhi to “turn into a supporter of our struggle4. .” He also categorically denied that the Tamil Tigers have been weakened, claiming that such statements were a vicious propaganda campaign put forward by Colombo. Nadesan also expressed “regret” that India was providing help to the Sri Lankan Government when “80 million Tamil people living in the world understand the atrocities of the Sinhalese Army5. .”

    In other developments, TMVP spokesperson Azath Moulana stated that Karuna, who had returned from the UK, would remain as the leader of the TMVP, while Pillayan would be his deputy. He added that the “functions of Karuna Amman and the functions of other members following his return would be decided at our politburo meeting this week6. ." The Controller-General of Immigration and Emigration (I&E) P.B. Abeykoon on his part denied reports that Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna had returned to the country from UK under a fake name. He noted that Karuna arrived under his original name with an Emergency Certificate issued by the British authorities7. .

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