LTTE has no regrets in killing Rajiv Gandhi - Nadesan implies

In an email interview conducted with an Indian news channel so-called political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) B.Nadesan declined to answer the question whether they regret the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Confirming the Sri Lanka Army reports he also said Prabhakaran was still among them.

The Indian news channel CNN-IBN asked Nadesan, "Does the LTTE feel that had it not been for the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, India would have supported the Eelam Tamil cause? Does the LTTE regret the Rajiv Gandhi assassination?

Nadesan declined to answer both questions the news channel reported.

In the past , by regretting the event the Chief ideologue of the LTTE, the late Anton Balasingham is believed to have entered into a controversy with the two main suspects of the assassination , LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief Pottuamman. Later a spokesman of the LTTE backtracked on the "regret". In his words Anton Balasingham said the killing was a "monumental historical tragedy which we regret."

India from time to time has reminded that both individuals are wanted in connection with the assassination. Due to the case there is a red alert against their names by the Interpol, which means that they could be arrested even any where else in the world by any national police, if they happen to get out of Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa has promised India that they would be handed over to India if they are caught alive. But some military authorities believe they should be tried in Sri Lanka for their crimes.

B.Nadesan also did not directly answer whether they are blocking the Tamil civilians who are trying to escape the LTTE enclave ravaged by war and trying to cross into the Sri Lanka government areas.

This the question asked from him: How do you respond to Sri Lanka government's claim that the LTTE is blocking a safe passage for civilians trapped in your areas?

Without telling anything about their blocking, about which the Tamil civilians have told foreign figures like visiting ambassadors and UN officials Nadesan gave an evasive answer analysing about the word "trapped". He said , "First of all, it is not appropriate to use the word "trapped." It is these people's land, where they have been living for generations until the Sri Lankan government chased them out of their homes. They are not trapped; they are still struggling to get their life back in their land with dignity. "But independent reports say at least many were driven into the area by the fleeing Tamil Tigers to be used as a human shield.

During the interview Nadesan assured: "We have neither ever committed any act against India's interests nor have any intentions to do so. The source of strength and security for India's southern flank is intertwined with the political stability and security of Eelam Tamils."

But the same TV channel broadcast a news items that said: "Security was stepped up in all the three international airports in Kerala following an alert about LTTE threat to the key installations, police sources said.

"The Air India security office in Thiruvananthapuram received the alert message from its Mumbai office, they added.

"The CISF, in charge of airports security, has stepped up vigil at the airports in Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery (Kochi) and Karippur (Kozhikoe)."

The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi is also considered a crime against India.