The slaughter KARADIC THE RAPISI TRD.
ARUS VA By K. Govindan OWEN TWO assassinations in Sri Lanka threaten to deepen political murder and thuggery on the island. The assassination of President Ranasinghe Premadasa followed that of oppositionist Lalith Athulathmudali, a leader of the Democratic United National Front.
Formed from a 1991 split in the ruling United National Party the DUNF is now the government's main challenger. It has the same electoral base. and has avoided the internal feuds which weakened the Sni Lankan Freedom Party, the traditional opposition.
Athulathmudali's murder was allegedly ordered by Premadasa or a faction of the ruling party fearful of losing their privileges and power Police have blamed both killings on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil telam, who are waging a separatist struggle in the North and East.
LTTE spokesperson Shantan told Socialst Outlook we categorically deny any responsibility for either murder. He refused to comment on the similarity of the Premadasa killing to that of Indian ex-Premier Rajiv Gandhi two years ago.
Tamils in Colombo are tense and many have fled the capital fearing a backlash similar to the July 1983 riots. In the North, where the LTTE is strong. the government continues bombing. shelling and a blockade of food. medicine and other goods.
In the East more than 5.000 Tamils have been 'disappeared" by the army in the last three years. Between 1987 and 1990 armed forces pursuing the Sinhala chauvinist Janatha Vimukthi Pera• muna disappeared" and killed 60,000 Sinhalese.
Less terror has helped build up the confidence of the workers movement. The left alternative at the May 17 Provincial council poll, the People's Liberation Organisation, is led by the Fourth Internationalist Nava Sama SaJama Party.