Chelvan's Funeral Minus Mother and Siblings

A mysterious artillery attack on Omanthai entry-exit point north of Vavuniya closed down that gateway to LTTE controlled area last afternoon, hours before the funeral of LTTE 'Brigadier' Thamilchelvan. The closure was subsequent to the withdrawal of the ICRC and SLA sentries from the checkpoint following artillery shells that fell near the Omanthai checkpoint, which is the last checkpoint in government areas along the A-9 Highway until Muhamalai in Jaffna.

Sources indicated that Tamil mourners, including the mother of Thamilchelvan were among those who couldn't cross over to LTTE areas in time for the funeral in Kilinochchi. Chelvan's body was taken along streets in Kilinochchi followed by a motorcade. Thamilchelvan's mother and several siblings living in a developed country had arrived the same day to, ironically the Katunayake airport. Why they were not smuggled in and asked to follow normal procedure in entering LTTE controlled areas through the unsafe Omanthai checkpoint where civilians normally wait for hours long until artillery duels subside, is puzzling.

The no-man's land ahead of Omanthai, and the checkpoint itself has been a location for many bitter battles in recent days. There was also no clear indication that the SLA was informed in advance of their coming. The SLA had cooperated in other such funerals such as this, like the funeral of the Batticaloa-Amparai Political Leader Kausalyan (Arasial Poruppalar) for example. Why the much mourned leader's next of kin were treated in this manner by the LTTE when Pripaharan's loved-ones are smuggled in from India by Sea Tigers and special escorts of suicide boats, for example, is the question.