"Its not our intentions to carry arms for ever", says Padmini

“We are in a democratic process and we do not follow the footsteps of terrorism ” says the head of Karuna faction's political secretary S. Padmini.

Responding to the comments made by former minister Mangala Samaraweera, she said, “still we have a military wing in our organisation but it is not our intention to carry arms for ever, but without arms our lives are at danger”.

Head of SLFP (M), former Foreign Minister Managala Samaraweera told BBC Sandeshaya on Sunday :"Karuna's strategies were not different from those of the LTTE".

Ready to disarm

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya Padmini said: "Once our security is assured by the government we are ready to disarm”.

Once our security is assured by the government we are ready to disarm s.Padmini

“However, despite the police protection our carders were assassinated by LTTE so we are forced to carry arms to defend ourselves”.

Padmini rejected the claims that Karuna faction recruits children as soldiers and said, “some children willingly join our group but we handed them back to UNICEF”.

Forced to carry weapons

Speaking about the reports from the East about extortions, Padmini said, “we do not extort money but somebody used our name to collect money and we are inquiring about it”.

“We have decided to handover him to the police” she added.

According to the government the East has being cleared from LTTE. When questioned if the East is free of LTTE there is no need to carry arm any more, Padmini said “despite the assurances given to us our members were killed in the East”.

“Though we are a democratic organisation we are forced to live with these weapons until our lives are safe.” she pointed out.