LTTE request SLMM to make necessary arrangements to avoid confrontation in the sea
In a letter addressed to Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of SLMM today 22, December, Mr.Thamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing of the LTTE, requested the SLMM to make necessary arrangements for members' travel in land and sea in terms of the agreed understanding reached earlier in order to avoid confrontations. The letter further states that the LTTE returned fire for self-protection on Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) boats that intercepted and attacked three LTTE vessels in the seas of Mannar Thursday morning.
Excerpts form the letter follows: “This letter is being addressed to you to provide full details relating to the incident in the Mannar seas in the morning hours today, 22 December 2005.” “We were unable to provide timely information on this due to the late arrival of our boats attacked by the SL Navy and to ascertain full details from our members who have escaped the attack.” “When three of our boats were traveling in the Mannar seas, SL Navy intercepted the fleet and started firing attacks. Our members had to return fire for self-protection. When the naval fleet was retreating, our members observed one navy boat left behind. Since that boat was not making any movements, our members approached and inspected it to find that the boat was gradually sinking due to the damage and two sailors were found dead and one alive with serious injuries. Abandoning the sinking boat with two dead bodies our members decided to save the injured sailor by transferring him to our boat already damaged by the naval attack. The damage to our boat was extensive that sea-water entered into the boat rapidly and the boat sank with the injured soldier.” “Our members managed to swim along with their injured colleague and reached the shores in our area late in the evening. It is after making inquiries from them the above details were obtained. In the meantime, the SL government has hastened to inform the SLMM and the media that the LTTE has abducted three sailors. Our members confirm that all the three sailors in the navy boat were drowned.” “In this context, it is relevant to refer you to our repeated requests to make arrangements for members' travel in land and sea in terms of the agreed understanding reached earlier. Please be advised that our members would continue this practice of traveling in the seas with arms for self-defence and it is essential that our request be officially responded to formalise travel in the future. Early action in providing the official arrangement in place would avoid recurrence of such incidents.”
22 December 2005
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Europe which has a total population of 800 million is made up of 45 language based nation states. South Asia which has a total population of one billion, (1000 million) is comprised of four states. Who is preventing and therefore benefiting by limiting new nation-states in South Asia?
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