The cabinet spokesperson on Thursday said that giving space to the LTTE to broadcast Voice of Tigers was acceptable as long as it kept within the boundaries of the terms and conditions set out in the licence issued to the group.

Asked whether action would be taken against the broadcast of the Tiger Radio on FM extending it well beyond the 20 km stipulated in the licence, Minister G. L. Peiris said that he was not aware if this was the case.

However, on the principle involving the grant of a licence to the VoT, he said that it was important for all parties to be able to put forward their points of view. "It is not right to gag one party.

Let all points of view emerge and the public will decide. We must remember that that the final solution must be passed in parliament by a two-thirds majority and also by the people. This broadcast will help the peace process," he said.

When it was pointed out that the LTTE which commenced its broadcast on FM yesterday carried an hour-long Sinhala programme, and three hours of "Tamil Eelam radio", he reiterated that the critical factor was that the LTTE keeps within the conditions of the licence. (SW)