Channel 4 News revealed that one of the victims was a high profile member of the Tamil Tigers – but claimed she was just a journalist rather than a direct fighter as a result of a heart condition. Issipriya was born in 1982 in Jaffna and was subsequently recruited by the LTTE and underwent military training in the Wanni. She then served in the LTTE Military Wing and subsequently joined the “Voice of Tigers”, the official radio station of the LTTE.
A report submitted to UNESCO by GoSL following the bombing of VOT by SLAF in 2007 made it clear that VOT was the official propaganda radio station of the LTTE. The LTTE cadres who died in the attack were identified as cadres who had also been actively engaged in military operations against the Security Forces.
Issipriya was given the rank of ‘Lt Col’ due to her contribution to the LTTE. She married a Sea Tiger cadre Sri Ram who also died in the final battle in May 2009. Sri Ram was the former LTTE Senior Sea Tiger leader in Trincomalee and took part in most of the operations launched by the LTTE against the Sri Lanka Navy and Merchant Vessels.
The identity card issued by the LTTE to Issipriya, pictured below, in which she was clad in combat attire, further confirms her military involvements with the LTTE.
Channel 4 itself notes that Issipriya inspired and glorified Black Tiger cadres who carried out suicide missions, making it clear that she played a key role in persuading youngsters to undertake suicide missions, a role that is worse than that of the misguided youngsters who are led to sacrifice themselves.
It is unfortunate that Channel 4, ignoring evidence of her active involvement in terrorist activities and driving youngsters to this, whitewashes her by claiming that she was just a journalist and not engaged in combat operations due to her health conditions.
(Courtesy –Defence.lk) DM