The Hindu : International / India & World : LTTE expresses `gratitude'

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Friday, Dec 22, 2006
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International - India & World

LTTE expresses `gratitude'

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Karunanidhi's condolence statement

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COLOMBO: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has expressed its `gratitude' to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for his condolence statement on the death of LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham and said that through the message Mr. Karunanidhi has proclaimed to the world the `self-respect' of Tamils.

S.P. Thamilchelvan, head of Liberation Tigers Political Division, in his concluding address to expatriate Tamils in Alexandria Hall in London on Wednesday, on the funeral of Balasingham, referred to the message of Mr. Karunanidhi.

The reference is seen by political observers here as a conscious effort by the Tigers to reach out to Mr. Karunanidhi in particular and leaders in Tamil Nadu in general and win back its support base.

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran too made it a point in his November 27 `Heroes Day' address to express `gratitude' to leaders and people of Tamil Nadu for their `support' to the cause of Tamil Eelam and asked them to continue their support to help the LTTE in its `freedom struggle'.

Mr. Thamilchelvan said: "Mr. Karunanidhi was foremost in expressing his condolence on the demise of our Voice of the Nation. We wish to convey our gratitude on behalf of our movement and our National leader for his voice from Tamil Nadu. We are grateful for him for the honour he bestowed on Bala Annai as the one who kept the flame of Tamil Eelam's self-respect burning.

By this act, Mr. Karunanidhi had proclaimed to the world, the self-respect of the entire Tamils. We wish to convey our gratitude to all the leaders of Tamil Nadu, lovers of Tamil people, Tamil media persons, Tamil poets, writers and other artistes who had expressed their grief on the demise of Bala Annai."

TamilNet claimed that armed men, clad in military fatigues, abducted 19 people from a private bus en route to Colombo from Kattankudy on Wednesday.

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