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'FM radio will be used to destroy T.N.'

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO. JAN. 31. The Opposition in Sri Lanka today said the recently acquired FM radio equipment "will be used'' by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to destroy Tamil Nadu'' with pro-Eelam propaganda.

Participating in a debate on the peace process, the Opposition frontbencher, Anura Bandaranaike, told Parliament that the Government had endangered the security of Sri Lanka and India by "turning a blind eye'' to the activities of the LTTE, which, he said, had "abused'' the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa.

The LTTE, Mr. Bandaranaike said, was "trying to build up an air wing'' and charged the Government with allowing it to do so. Terming as "very serious'' reports that "parts of an aircraft'' were taken to rebel-held northern Sri Lanka, Mr. Bandaranaike wanted a no-confidence motion to be moved against the Defence Minister for "endangering the security of the nation''.

Earlier attempts by the LTTE to build airstrips in northern Sri Lanka were thwarted by the previous Government, he said, and accused the United National Front Government of empowering the Tigers.

Mr. Bandaranaike, who is the brother of the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, asserted that the "executive powers'' vested with the President "will be used against the LTTE'' if its activities were not controlled.

Draft constitution for Prabakaran

The Chief Opposition Whip, Mangala Samaraweera, pulled out three copies of the Draft constitution, prepared by the previous Chandrika Kumaratunga Government and wanted them to be handed over to the LTTE chief, V. Prabakaran, and the Chief Negotiator, Anton S. Balasingham. When the talks were about federalism, these three copies — in Sinhalese, Tamil and English — would have to be given to the LTTE, he said.

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