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Expects Govt. to reciprocate : LTTE to release Forces personnel on August 31

by Ranga Jayasuriya

The LTTE yesterday announced that it would release seven Security Forces personnel presently in its custody on August 31 whilst also naming a four-man delegation for the first round of the formal talks in Thailand.

"The LTTE will release the soldiers in custody as a goodwill gesture before the talks," LTTE Media Secretary Daya Master told the Daily News.

He said that the Government had informed the Tigers that it would reciprocate the gesture in kind.

The Peace Secretariat and the ICRC, however, said they have not yet been informed of the date of the release, "though the exchange of prisoners is now under discussions".

The seven Security Forces' personnel are Commander Ajith Boyagoda of the SL Navy, S. B. Gunawardene, S. R. Jayakumar, T. P. Gamini and D. S. Priyanka de Silva of the 3rd Gajaba Regiment and P. B. Navindra Jayalath and T. M. Nimal Dissanayake of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry.

Commander Boyagoda was taken prisoner in the LTTE attack on the "Sagarawardene" Naval ship in 1994, while the six soldiers were captured during an attack on the Nagadeventhurai Naval Base in 1993. The LTTE Spokesman said the Tigers have given the Government a list of 23 Tamil detainees whom they wish to be released, but refused to name them.

Authoritative defence sources on Tuesday told the Daily News that 23 LTTE detainees have been transferred to the Welikada Prison from Batticaloa, Jaffna, Anuradhapura and Kalutara prisons. Military Spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne told the Daily News that the selection of LTTE detainees for exchange is currently under way.

"But it is not yet finalised," .

Meanwhile, the LTTE yesterday announced a four-man delegation for the first round of formal talks in Thailand. The team headed by Anton Balasingham comprises LTTE legal adviser V. Rudrakumar, Dr. J. Maheshwaran and Adele Balasingham, Balasingham's wife will also function as secretary of the delegation. The LTTE Spokesman said the delegation would change in future negotiations depending on the issues which would come under discussions.

Rudrakumar is a lawyer appeared on behalf of the LTTE when the group was declared a foreign terrorist organisation. Maheshwaran is an Australian based rehabilitation and development expert.

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