Sri Lanka's denial fails to pacify Tamil leaders

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, AUG. 18. Sri Lanka's denial that it has bought chemical weapons, an accusation made against it by the LTTE, has failed to pacify Tamil leaders. Thirteen Tamil members of Parliament in Opposition today met to condemn the Government for the acquisition of the Russian-made RPO-A Shmel rocket launcher, which they described as a chemical weapon.

They resolved to prepare a comprehensive report on the ill- effects of the weapon to send to the United Nations and to international human rights societies.

The MPs also decided to lobby heads of all diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka, other political parties and civil society groups on the purchase of the weapon.

In a statement two days ago, the LTTE accused the Sri Lankan Army of acquiring chemical weapons. It was a general accusation, and did not specify the weapon.

Information about the RPO-Shmel available on the Internet makes no mention of it as a chemical weapon nor that it has been banned.

However, its description leaves no doubt that it causes death and destruction in a particularly gruesome manner.

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Section  : International
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