Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels warn of imminent war

By Joe Ariyaratnam

KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Tamil Tiger rebels
warned on Sunday of an imminent return to Sri Lanka’s
two-decade civil war, vowing to carry arms in government-held
areas — a move that could rupture a three-year cease-fire.

Rebels would take counter-measures if the military follows
through on a vow to stop them, S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) political wing, told
a news conference in the northern stronghold of Kilinochchi.

Analysts said the latest Tiger statement, which comes after
a string of warnings and an ultimatum demanding the government
safeguards their cadres in the restive east after a spate of
attacks, could be a prelude to war.

“We are in reality moving very fast toward the end of the
peace efforts,” Thamilselvan told reporters. “Our patience too
has come to an end.”

“The Tamil people are justified in thinking war is imminent
and would take place soon,” he added. “In the future we shall
take to our usual mode of travel arrangements. And if the
military obstructs it, the cease-fire agreement will enter a
critical stage.”

Thamilselvan said a Supreme Court ruling that blocks a
government pact to share $3 billion worth of tsunami aid with
the Tigers only underlined the fact the Tamil people could not
expect justice from the majority Sinhalese.

His stern words came after a two week deadline he gave the
government to ensure the safety of rebel cadres while in
military-held areas — where they are allowed to go under the
terms of the 2002 truce — lapsed.

The Tigers have closed their political offices in
government-held areas in the east and pulled their cadres back
to pockets of jungle they control.

Analysts and diplomats say the standoff could spark an
armed confrontation, breaking the truce and raising the specter
of a return to a civil war that has killed over 64,000 people.

“I would take this seriously,” said Iqbal Athas, a defense
analyst for Jane’s Defense Weekly. “I would not say it would be
war immediately, but it would certainly be the beginning of
hostilities.”

“The cease-fire agreement makes express provisions to
prevent them from carrying arms, so if you are expressly saying
(that), you are also saying the cease-fire is off,” he added.

Dozens of rebel cadres, police, soldiers and civilians have
been killed in recent months despite the cease-fire.