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In the ongoing violence and protests orchestrated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in an effort to oust their rival political party the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) from Jaffna peninsula the Tamil terrorist group has set fire to the office of the EPDP in the Chavakachcheri town, the EPDP complained. The Tamil political party who are advocating a united Sri Lanka, opposed to the separatist policies of the LTTE said the fire was "set ablaze by thugs led by LTTE cadre, Pappa about 12.30 a.m." November 21. The terrorists used petrol bombs to commit the arson, the EPDP further said. "The office was on fire immediately after petrol bomb attack. Two of our members are missing in this incident," a statement of the party further complained. The LTTE orchestrated protests by mobs stepped up a campaign demanding the closure of all EPDP offices in the Jaffna peninsula from November 20 following a campaign they started to oust the EPDP from the Delft island off Jaffna peninsula November 18. The Tamil terrorist group officially did not show its face in these agitations. But organizations, which have acted as front organizations for the terrorist group in the past as the Jaffna student group have demanded the ouster of the EPDP and issued an ultimatum that they should quit the peninsula by December 31. The Chavakachcheri arson is thought to be a warning about the things to come after December 31. In the past the EPDP fought back such violence with their own defense. But now, the party has been turned in to a lame duck after a ceasefire agreement between LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Under conditions of the agreement the EPDP was disarmed making the LTTE the only armed group in the Jaffna peninsula, Wanni and Eastern Province in the LTTE controlled areas. The LTTE's present action allegedly belies a promise given by a LTTE leader Anton Balasingham days ago that the LTTE would allow a multi-party polity in areas under their control. The statement was made at a press conference after the second meeting of the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration and the terrorist group in Bangkok, Thailand. Initially the LTTE orchestrated groups wanted the EPDP to be ousted from the Delft Island, a power base of the Tamil political party. Now the demand has been extended to the whole Jaffna peninsula. The leader of the EPDP, Douglas Devananda was quoted as saying that they were being denied their fundamental rights granted to them by the constitution of Sri Lanka to carry on with democratic political activities. The EPDP has become the only existing Tamil party to oppose the policies of the LTTE. Four major political parties after many of their leaders were assassinated by the LTTE gave over the decision-making powers to the terrorist group after organizing themselves under the union, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). The LTTE maintains they are the sole representatives of the Tamil people and physically eliminated many Tamil leaders who did not agree in the past. Many Tamil groups had to unite under the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) allegedly under their dictates. The EPDP leader Douglas Devananda, who refused to succumb to the dictates of the LTTE, escaped two attempts on his life in the past. Anton Balasingham, who lives under the protection of the British government in a public speech made in London, more than a year ago, said they were eagerly waiting to garland Douglas Devananda. That was in reference to the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber of the LTTE while being garlanded by the female assassin herself. (EOM) (22/11/02 go2lanka.com) |