Not a tactical withdrawal’
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The government yesterday denied reports that the LTTE had tactically withdrawn from Pooneryn. http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=32876
Addressing the cabinet news briefing in the parliament complex Cabinet spokesman and Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the Tigers would have never withdrawn from Pooneryn if their camp was not over run since it was strategically important for them.
“They have launched massive attacks on the security forces from there,” he said.
The Minister also denied reports that the LTTE had managed to infiltrate several areas which had been liberated by the security forces in the recent past.
He said the government’s mission was to crush terrorism and establish democracy in the North and East.
However, he said the government would not suppress any community in this country and force a political solution on any one. “Our only intention is to give the Tamils in the North and the East their democratic rights,” he emphasized. With regard to the killing of private secretary of Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, the minister said terrorist used all kinds of tactics to achieve their goals but he said he was not saying that the LTTE was behind that killing.
