6.2.2008
Sri Lanka expects Tamil Nadu officials to take
immediate action to set up adequate mechanisms to curb LTTE
activity in the state and along the South Indian coast.
This request was made after LTTE caders onboard two Indian
trawlers destroyed a locally built patrol craft north of
Talaimannar and close to the Iranativu island on Monday
evening.
The request, made through the Indian High Commission, emphasized
the need to take immediate action as the attackers had escaped
taking cover behind a large cluster of Indian trawlers poaching
well within Sri Lankan waters.
An
authoritative official said that the attackers had been
in control of the two Indian trawlers. According to a sailor
who survived the attack on the ill-fated boat manned by
a seven-man crew, men onboard one of the boats which carried
attackers had called for assistance claiming that their
boat had been disabled. Of the two SLN boats at the scene,
one had cautiously approached the Indian trawler only to
be attacked, the official said.
Navy
headquarters said that there had been approximately 400
Indian trawlers north of Talaimannar when the attack was
launched. The Tamil Nadu fishing fleet poaches in Sri Lankan
waters for at least three days a week, according to sources.
It
is also reported that LTTE is using Tamil Nadu fishing fleet
to transfer arms and ammunition to the Vanni, a fact that
had earlier been brought to the notice of Tamil Nadu officials.
Analysts
observe that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi
had pledged not to tolerate any LTTE activity in the sate,
while the Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony addressing
the 10th Asian Security conference stressed the necessity
of combating terrorism united irrespective of nationality
as terrorism has become a global threat.
India
proscribed the LTTE, naming it as a terrorist organization,
following the assassination of then Indian Prime Minister,
Rajiv Gandhi.
Courtesy
- Government Information |