Division among Tamil rebels may threaten peace process
Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies) The peace process between rebel "Tamil Tigers" and the Sri Lankan government risks getting even more complicated after a recent split occurring on the rebel front.
More than a third of Tamil Tiger guerilla fighters (around 6000) in the eastern part of the county, headed by Colonel "Karuna" (whose real name is Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan), have refused to follow the orders of their commander, Vellupillai Prabhakaran. The latter requested a deployment of units from eastern to northern regions. A spokesman for Karuna denied the division among troops and stressed the rebels' fidelity to Prabhakaran. However, a state official said that Karuna is now heading a new faction.
On March 4 Norwegian staff members of an international peace organization met with Tamil Tiger representatives, who defined the division among troops as "dangerous". It is feared that such division could lead to war among Tamil factions or to various alliances with the government. Karuna has already sent envoys to the government to propose a separate truce.
The current peace process got underway in Jan. 2002, launched by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of the National Unity Party. However, negotiations have been at a standstill since April 2003.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has often criticized the maneuvers of this political adversary, Wickremesinghe, saying that he is too submissive to rebel demands.
Last Feb. 7 the Sri Lankan president dissolved parliament and called for early general elections on April 2. His decision has been the cause for worry among members of the international community, who view his move as further halting the peace process in the country. (MR)
.png)
