The Hindu : LTTE shows signs of impatience

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2003

International

International

LTTE shows signs of impatience

By V.S. Sambandan

PALLAI (Sri Lanka) April 29. Showing signs of impatience with negotiations, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) displayed its military hardware on Monday and took the latest impasse on the peace process to "its people,'' asking them ``to decide'' if a solution could be reached through talks.

Lamenting that the last 14 months of ceasefire had "not reduced civilian hardship,'' the head of the Sea Tigers, Soosai, told civilians in the rebel-held northern Sri Lanka: "it is your responsibility to decide if we should find a solution through talks.''

Though no mention of a parting from the negotiation process was made, the message behind `Col' Soosai's remarks was quite evident, when he asked the audience to ponder and decide "whether your problems will be solved through discussions.''

In a growl of impatience, he said, "we have told the Government several times. There has been no action.'' Neither had the Government "taken up the issues,'' nor were "they in a position to take them up,'' he said, adding "under these circumstances you will have to decide if we have to talk and find a solution to your problems.'' The unmet demands of the LTTE includes the re-location of the northern High Security Zones and the acceptance of the Sea Tigers as a "de-facto naval unit.''

The disappointment that the Sea Tigers was not given this recognition was evident.

Outlining the civilian problems in fishing and farming, he added: "if this is your plight, even we, the Sea Tigers, face the same difficulties.''

Recalling the loss of the LTTE's merchant ship on March 10 and the earlier suicide explosion of a rebel trawler, he said: ``the Sri Lanka Navy which could not face us in battles, has killed 14 Sea Tigers during the ceasefire.''

That the LTTE was straining at the end of the military leash also came out in `Col' Soosai's speech when he said: "we are keeping our hands tied for your sake.''

Asserting that the Sea Tigers was the "backbone of the LTTE's struggle,'' the head of the Sea Tigers said, "it will remain the naval force of the Tamils, till a permanent solution is reached'' and called upon ``youngsters to join to make it a powerful force again.''

The militaristic mood of the rebels was on display at a sprawling ground here, some 360 km from Colombo. They were marking the third anniversary of the capture of Elephant Pass military complex — the largest Army base to fall into rebel hands during decades of fighting.

This village, a few kilometres from Elephant Pass, was an artillery base of the Sri Lanka Army, before the rebel capture, immediately after Elephant Pass in April 2000.

Colombo and the Tigers are currently observing a Norwegian-facilitated ceasefire. A written 14-day notice is required if any side wants to pull out of the ceasefire.

It may be recalled that last October, `Col' Soosai at a public event in the rebel-held Kilinochchi to mark "LTTE women's day'' had said that the rebel fighting units will remain as a "protective force'' of the island's Tamils.

Monday's speech was the second to be made by a top LTTE military leader since talks commenced last September, and comes at a time when the Tigers have unilaterally suspended talks with the Government.

On show was a sample of its weapons — ranging from a Luger pistol to a 152mm artillery piece; with a range of 17 km. Propaganda was the major motive behind the celebrations. Parades by its fighting units and strong emotional calls played a major part in the event, featuring songs and dances with the Tigers narrating various battlefield victories over the past 13 years.

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