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An uneasy camaraderie?

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO SEPT. 25. After training guns on each other for decades, the Sri Lanka Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are now moving like comrades in arms. Sri Lanka saw a new high in the current peace process when armed Government soldiers escorted unarmed Tigers who travelled between the rebel-held areas from eastern to northern Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

A total of 291 unarmed LTTE cadres, 214 of whom were women, were protected by soldiers when they went on leave from the eastern Batticaloa district to the northern Vanni region. The Tigers hold territories in both these areas, but to move between them, they have to cross Government-held regions. The land movement was required due to rough seas off the island's east coast. The Tigers were taken in five buses, with army escort. A key eastern highway, which was re-opened for civilian traffic on July 15, was used for the movement.

The Tigers have always maintained that they should be permitted to carry arms for self-defence.

However, the ceasefire between the LTTE and Colombo provided for movement of unarmed rebels between the rebel and Government-held territories.

During earlier ceasefires as well, similar movements were followed. However, in terms of numbers, Tuesday's travel marked a new high, the Defence sources told The Hindu.

The present spirit of camaraderie, however, does not mean that the combating sides have lowered their guard.

The Tigers have ruled out disarmament until an acceptable political solution is reached through negotiations.

The Government, for its part, has maintained its war-preparedness.

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