Minister joins call for lifting of ban on Tigers

Tamil political parties known to be acting as a front group for the Tamil guerrillas have stepped up their campaign in Sri Lanka calling for the removal of the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ahead of talks with the government.

Their call for the removal of the ban came at a ceremony what they called a 'cultural event' known as (Pongu Thamil) held in the north-eastern port city of Trincomalee on Tuesday. The event was a follow up similar events held earlier in the Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

Processions from various parts of Trincomalee town and its suburbs commenced around 8.30am and arrived in the heart of the town around 12 noon.

Thousands of school children, undergraduates, teachers, government officials and members of the public from all parts of the district participated in the processions and the rally, reports from the area said.

Life-size cut-outs of LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran were put up at the main junctions in the town.

Life in the Trincomalee town came to a standstill during the rally. All government and provincial departments, local government institutions did not function. Business establishments belonged to all communities were closed as were public markets.

Senior Tamil politicians including the cabinet Minister Periyasamy Chandrasekaran addressed the meeting in which Tamil politicians called for the lifting of the ban on the LTTE saying it would facilitate talks.

He pointed out that under the past government, the rights of Tamils were suppressed and their lives were threatened by the state armed forces, but with the ceasefire agreement now in force that Tamils have come out openly to express their feelings without fear for anyone.

Tamil guerrillas have hinted that they wanted the ban on their organisation lifted before the talks with the government.