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TNA MP deported from Tamil Nadu
By Chris Kamalendran
A TNA parliamentarian who was on his way to attend a conference organised by a pro-LTTE group in Tamil Nadu was deported yesterday, party sources said.

The member, Kanahendran Eelavendan accompanied by Upcountry People's Front leader P. Chandrasekaran left Colombo last afternoon for the meeting, but was stopped at the Chennai airport and refused entry into the country.

Mr. Chandrasekaran, who was allowed to proceed from the airport, reportedly made an attempt to argue the case for his colleague, but failed to convince the authorities to allow Mr. Eelavendan to enter Tamil Nadu.

They were on the way to attend an annual event organised by pro-LTTE Tamil National Movement leader Pala Nedumaran who had been detained for more than one and half years under India's anti-terrorism laws and released along with pro-LTTE MDMK leader Vaiko early this year.

The event in Bangalore attracts a large number of delegates from various parts of the world to speak on the rights of the Tamils. According to these sources, Mr. Eelavendan was last night heading back to Colombo from Chennai, leaving behind Mr. Chandrasekaran. ITAK General Secretary Mavai Senathiraja had also gone to Tamil Nadu earlier to attend the same conference.

Explaining the reasons why Mr. Eelavendan was turned away, party sources said he had been living as a refugee in Tamil Nadu for more than 15 years, but had been deported in December 4, 2000 after being accused of being a pro-LTTE activist.

He is learnt to have gone to Tamil Nadu without a visa, using the privilege given to MPs to travel visa-free to any SAARC country. Though the deportation caused a stir across the Palk Straits, an official of the Indian High Commission in Colombo claimed last night they were not aware of the happenings.

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