"It is a dangerous thing to take journalists in military vehicles around Forward Defence Lines" [FDLs], said Illanthirayan, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam [LTTE] defence spokesman to the 'Thamilosai' programme of the BBC yesterday [19 September].

Ilanthirayan said: "We have not yet been informed of any attacks on military vehicles today between Mirusuvil and Mukamalai. However, we wish to say that journalists travelling in military vehicles through FDLs are taking a great risk."

"The security forces have begun attacking the LTTE. It is customary for them to attack us using their vehicles. The LTTE responds with retaliatory attacks. A retaliatory attack could have taken place. It was, however, a dangerous thing not to have informed us before taking journalists along."

"It has been a practice observed by the armed forces that we be informed about planned visits by journalists before they launch an attack against us.

"The government has announced that recently its forces destroyed a ship of ours. We had no connection whatsoever with that ship."

Source: Virakesari, Colombo, in Tamil 20 Sep 06

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