Balance of forces tilt against rebels in LTTE
HT,
Colombo, March 5.
The split in the LTTE is for real, despite public statements to the contrary from the eastern rebel leader Col Karuna and the head of the LTTE's political wing, SP Tamilselvan. And as of now, the balance of forces is tilted against the rebels and in favour of the north-dominated, Wanni-based leadership of the militant organization, presided over by the redoubtable Velupillai Prabhakaran.
It is not yet clear if Karuna has the support of the entirety of the Batticalao-Amparai (BA) district unit, which he claims to represent. Nor is it certain if he has the support of the people of BA district, whose grievances he has highlighted.
But forces outside are clearly not on Karuna's side. The Sri Lankan government has refused to entertain Karuna's request to enter into a separate ceasefire agreement (CFA) with the BA district unit as represented by him. The government, meaning the President and the Prime Minister, have both said that the CFA with Prabhakaran will stand. The Sri Lankan armed forces have refused to stop Karuna's rivals from moving from the east to the safety of the north, or to allow his cadres to cross over from the hostile north to the safety of the east. The armed forces have thus sided with Prabhakaran.
More...
Published: Fri Mar 5 16:45:59 EST 2004
|
|
|
