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LTTE launches satellite TV
Tamil guerrillas yesterday launched a satellite TV station from the Wanni to broadcast news to Europe. The TV station known as the National Television of Thamil Eelam (NIT) with its emblem as the 'Niyangala' flower was due to make its first broadcast around midnight local time.

The Niyangala flower is considered the 'national flower' of the LTTE. The broadcast is expected to be linked via satellite to almost all European countries with immediate effect. Subsequently it will be made available to other parts of the world including Asia, the Tamilnet website said.

"We will beam only fifteen minutes of news everyday for the next two weeks. Thereafter our telecast time would be increased to half an hour," an NIT spokesman was quoted as saying

The move came less than a week after the LTTE expanded its 'Voice of Tamil Eelam' broadcast from the north to the eastern province. This is done, utilizing radio broadcast equipment the LTTE imported without duty during the previous UNF regime. At present, the service could be picked up in Batticaloa and Trincomalee on FM 103 band.

Launch of the satellite TV station coincided with the visit of an LTTE delegation led by political wing leader S.P.Thamilselvan to eight European countries. TV programmes will mainly include news and current affairs.

Deputy Media Minister Segu Issadeen said the LTTE had not sought any permission to operate a satellite TV station. Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Chairman C. Maliyadda and Director General Aruna Amarasekara were not available for comment immediately.

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