LTTE SUSPECT ARRESTED IN MURDER OF POLICE

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001459

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM CE LTTE
SUBJECT: LTTE SUSPECT ARRESTED IN MURDER OF POLICE
SUPERINTENDENT

REF: COLOMBO 1374


1. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre "Gopi"
was arrested following a gun battle on August 17, in Jaffna
during a joint security forces operation for the August 5
murder of the police superintendent . The gun fight slightly
wounded one officer and mortally wounded another. A heavy
security force presence remains in the area today to prevent
rioting, similar to the riot that claimed the life of the
Jaffna police superintendent on August 5.


2. (U) Local constabulary and national Criminal
Investigation Division (CID) officers supported by the Sri
Lankan Army (SLA) were conducting a cordon and search
operation. As police approached the house of a suspect in
the murder of the Jaffna police superintendent (Reftel A),
they came under fire from suspected LTTE cadres. After the
gunmen fled the scene, police arrested the suspect and
evacuated the two wounded officers.


3. (SBU) The LTTE website TamilNet identified the suspect as
"Gopi", a financial officer in the political wing of the
LTTE. Other sources in Jaffna said he was an intelligence
operative. The LTTE has filed a complaint with the Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM). These same sources said that on
the night of Gopi's arrest, LTTE cadres spread word that
there would be a protest the following day. Because of the
close proximity to Jaffna University, security forces have
deployed in the tense neighborhood in order to forestall a
riot.
ENTWISTLE