LTTE marks Heroes’ Week on low key

~ Admits 954 cadres killed this year

The LTTE yesterday marked the fourth day of its Heroes Week with several commemorative programmes in the Wanni ahead of its leader Velupilli Prabhakaran’s much-looked-forward-to annual Martyr’s Day speech on Tuesday. Reports said the ceremonies were being held on a low key in view of the security situation and the death of the group’s political wing leader, S. P. Thamilselvan, in an Air Force raid on November 2.

The reports also said the crowds at the ceremonies were low because of the non-availability of transport to travel to Kilinochchi and strict security checks at Omanthai exit-entry point. Mr. Prabhakaran’s speech is to be broadcast on Tuesday at 6.08 p.m. on Voice of Tigers radio.In his last year’s speech, the LTTE leader said the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime hoped to decide the fate of the Tamil nation using its military power. “It wants to occupy the Tamil land and then force an unacceptable solution on the Tamils. Due to this strategy of the Rajapaksa regime, the CFA has become defunct.”

“The Rajapaksa regime is not giving due importance to the peace talks because it has confidence in its military approach.” Meanwhile, the LTTE web site yesterday announced that 954 cadres had been killed so far this year. It also said that the movement had lost 19,887 fighters from September 1, 1982 to November, 20 this year.