10th November 1996

The Jungle Telegraph

By Alia


Top cops rights' fight

A group of Deputy Inspectors General in the Police may create legal history by going to courts with a fundamental rights application.

They say it is all over a move to elevate one of their colleagues, currently junior in the seniority list to a higher senior position.

The move, backed by a thrifty one-time top cop and his close friends would mean the junior will be among the first half a dozen. He would then have overtaken at least two and half dozen others.

There are 37 DIGs in the police cadre.

But for the top cops the problem is more than a law and order one.

They say that the Public Service Commission turned down the request twice but okayed it the third time. That too when the aspirant's record of service was interrupted for three long years.

What will the big boss say when he hears this? They are awaiting his return.

Black sheep in the green camp

United National Party top rungers were disappointed when the government did not heed their request for a national holiday for the funeral of the late J.R.Jayewardene.

They were more disappointed last week when they learnt that one of their area leaders, a young elephant lover at that, was chief guest at a volleyball tournament that day. Later that evening, there was a gala dance where liquor flowed. They danced their cares away with the young man as chief guest.. That's southern comfort for them.

Singh bombshell

Former Indian Prime Minister, V. P. Singh, has dropped a bombshell before the Jain Commission now probing the conspiracy aspect in the assassination of late Premier, Rajiv Gandhi, in New Delhi.

The fact that Rajiv fell victim to an LTTE plot is now well known.

But Mr. Singh declared that it was the Congress government headed by Mr. Gandhi which not only released 157 LTTE activists arrested in Tamil Nadu but also ensured their safe passage by a defence aircraft when the IPFK soldiers were laying down their lives and were being killed.

So the Tigers had Rajiv's blessings before they chose to eliminate him!

Billion dollar question

Despite severe material losses and inadequacy of resources, is the Sri Lanka Navy now trying to operate a cargo service?

Navy's Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Cecil Tissera, is due to leave for China on Wednesday to negotiate the purchase of a cargo vessel.

His departure comes at a time when the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Mohan Samarasekera's date of retirement - November 16 is due.

Will he receive an extension of service or will the buying mission to China get delayed is the billion dollar question.

Big attack in the offing?

A few hundred yards away from the coast, at a point between Trincomalee south and Vakarai north, LTTE's Sea Tiger leadership was busy last week.

Led by Sea Tiger Leader Soosai, they reviewed a Sea Tiger "passing out parade". Radio traffic from the area was intense. There were indications that Sea Tigers were making preparations for an attack somewhere in Trincomalee.

Is it to co-incide with Prabhakaran's birthday on November 26? they ask.

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