Govt. considering special pardon for Tiger members’ families: Dy. Minister Muralitheran

Slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan’s family is currently being cared for by the military. Thamilselvan’s wife, children and mother are being well looked after and are being provided all necessary assistance, Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamoorthi Muralitheran told Adaderana this morning.

Deputy Minister Muralitheran, better known as Karuna Amman, who joined mainstream politics and was appointed a vice chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that there were several families who were still living under military care. Though they had relatives who were LTTE members, these families were ordinary civilians.

“We have been discussing with President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a special pardon for most of these families and for them to be resettled along with the other civilians. The President has agreed to consider such a process,” said Deputy Minister Muralitheran.

One such family is that of S.P. Thamilselvan who was killed in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) air raid targeting a building used by the Tigers as an office. Thamilselvan’s wife, children and mother are receiving all assistance from the military now. As far as he knew, they were not active members of the Tiger outfit, added the Deputy Minister.

“In fact, I had arranged for them to meet Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and other officials since the children needed assistance. I think the family has already met the Minister,” he said.

If they did not have legal procedures against them, most of the families who had one or several members serving the former separatist outfit will be gradually allowed to resettle like the other civilians, Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan told Adaderana in the teleconversation.