This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7488339.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Renegade S Lanka leader goes home | Renegade S Lanka leader goes home |
(11 minutes later) | |
Former Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger renegade Col Karuna has arrived in Colombo after completing a prison sentence in the UK, British embassy officials say. | Former Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger renegade Col Karuna has arrived in Colombo after completing a prison sentence in the UK, British embassy officials say. |
Embassy spokesman Dominic Williams told the BBC that Col Karuna had been removed from a UK detention centre and deported to Sri Lanka on 2 July. | Embassy spokesman Dominic Williams told the BBC that Col Karuna had been removed from a UK detention centre and deported to Sri Lanka on 2 July. |
The embassy refused to give any more details about his arrival. | The embassy refused to give any more details about his arrival. |
A spokesman for his Tamil Peoples' Liberation Tigers party said that the colonel was "delighted" to be home. | A spokesman for his Tamil Peoples' Liberation Tigers party said that the colonel was "delighted" to be home. |
But in an interview with the BBC, he said that the colonel would not be offered the position of chief minister of Eastern Province, which was won by an alliance led by the government - containing the Tamil Peoples' Liberation Tigers - in elections in May. | But in an interview with the BBC, he said that the colonel would not be offered the position of chief minister of Eastern Province, which was won by an alliance led by the government - containing the Tamil Peoples' Liberation Tigers - in elections in May. |
Security concerns | Security concerns |
Col Karuna was the commander of rebel territory in eastern Sri Lanka and effectively number two in the Tiger military organisation. | Col Karuna was the commander of rebel territory in eastern Sri Lanka and effectively number two in the Tiger military organisation. |
class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/3537025.stm">Profile: Colonel Karuna | |
But in 2004 Col Karuna defected and began fighting alongside government forces against the Tigers. | But in 2004 Col Karuna defected and began fighting alongside government forces against the Tigers. |
Col Karuna was sent to jail in the UK in January for identity fraud after being arrested in London late last year. | Col Karuna was sent to jail in the UK in January for identity fraud after being arrested in London late last year. |
He said his forged diplomatic passport and visa were arranged for him by the Sri Lankan defence secretary. | He said his forged diplomatic passport and visa were arranged for him by the Sri Lankan defence secretary. |
Human rights group Amnesty International expressed disappointment that despite six months of investigation the British authorities did not find enough evidence to charge him for war crimes. | Human rights group Amnesty International expressed disappointment that despite six months of investigation the British authorities did not find enough evidence to charge him for war crimes. |
Previous version
1
Next version