<b> We Have abandon the War – LTTE’s Jaffna Organizer - Ilamparithi </b>

Guna Kajananth - Jaffna July 30: LTTE’s political organizers in Jaffna and Ampara yesterday said that they are recruiting youths not to fight a war, but to do political work.

Jaffna organizer Ilamparithi told a meeting at Kayts: We need manpower to do our political work. We are recruiting young men and women to train them as political activists. We have abandoned the war. Our leader told us that we will not fight another war unless it is forced on us.”

Ampara organizer E. Visu, speaking in a separate function put that point more effectively. He said: “There are some who want the war to break out. They are trying to provoke us. We will not be provoked. Our leader has told us strictly not to get provoked.”

Both told their respective audience: Our leader has sent us with a definite mandate: to work for the political, economic and social advancement of the people. “That is the mission we intend to accomplish,” Ilamparithi emphasized categorically.

In separate interviews Ilanparithi and Visu told me that, they have started their operations with cleaning the society of some of the social ills: exhibition of blue films in video parlors and the sale of kassipu.

“We discovered about 12 kassipu selling points around the Jaffna University. We have succeeded in closing them down,” Ilamparithi said.

Jaffna political office has gone a step further. It issued a leaflet yesterday calling upon the people to safeguard natural resources and to protect the environment. They were told to prevent the felling of trees, especially coconut, Palmyra, jak and mango.

“Our next step is to launch a tree planting campaign,” Ilamparithi said.
LTTE in its administrative structure has allocated a special place for the forest department. It functions effectively in LTTE controlled areas, planting vast acreage with forest tree species.

The leaflet has warned the people of the damage of the uncontrolled sand mining would cause to Jaffna’s underground water resources. “Jaffna’s water is turning saline,” the leaflet warns.

Visu said the rebuilding of the war devastated north-east would be LTTE’s priority. He added that they intend to mobilize people’s power to rebuild the economy.

“We will not return to the path of military action in the future. We will use Peoples’ Power to win back our rights,” Visu said.