
LTTE Delegation Leaves for Japanese Round of Peace Talks
A LTTE delegation comprising of Mr. Anton Balasingam - theoretician and political advisor to the LTTE, Mrs. Adele Balasingam, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan - head of the political wing of the LTTE, Col. Karuna - LTTE Special Commander for Batticaloa and Amparai districts, Mr. Puleethevan from the political wing and Dr. J. Maheshwaran, left Killinochchi earlier today. They traveled to Colombo in a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter and scheduled to leave for Japan later tonight to take part in the next round of peace talks.
The LTTE delegation was given an auspicious send off by a large gathering of people, LTTE generals and cadres. LTTE boycott of the peace talks was widely expected following the recent incident in which the Sri Lanka Navy attacked and sank a LTTE merchant vessel in international waters killing all 11 LTTE cadres on board. The LTTE high command made the decision yesterday to continue participating in the peace talks despite this extreme provocation on the part of Sri Lanka security forces.
16 March 2003
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