03-03-2004, 05:35 PM
Powerful rebel general in Sri Lanka splits from the main Tamil Tiger army, a senior guerrilla says
<b>Associated Press, Wed March 3, 2004 11:04 EST . SHIMALI SENANAYAKE - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP)</b> A general commanding thousands of rebels in Sri Lanka - has split from the main Tamil Tiger army because of disputes over the deployment of fighters, a senior rebel said Wednesday. It also comes a month before Sri Lanka - holds nationwide parliamentary elections.
There was no immediate reaction from Prabhakaran's group, which is based in the country's north.
The split is likely to hamper the efforts of Norwegian negotiators who having been working for two years to secure a peace deal between the rebels and the government.
There was no immediate comment from the government, but top aides to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were expected to meet later Wednesday to discuss the issue.
Sri Lankan army officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than a dozen rebels had traveled from the east to north Wednesday in possible desertions from Karuna's group.
The official said another reason for the split was that Karuna was angered over a spate of unspecified assassinations and attacks in his area in the lead-up to the April 2 elections. He said the violence had been ordered by rebel commanders in the north without Karuna's knowledge.
Two Tamil politicians were killed this week in the area. The politicians had been members of parties controlled by Sri Lanka - 's majority Sinhalese.
The split is likely to complicate the elections. The rebels' northern leadership has appointed supporters to vie under a mainstream Tamil political party the Tamil National Alliance. It was not clear whether Karuna would support the party.
<b>Associated Press, Wed March 3, 2004 11:04 EST . SHIMALI SENANAYAKE - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP)</b> A general commanding thousands of rebels in Sri Lanka - has split from the main Tamil Tiger army because of disputes over the deployment of fighters, a senior rebel said Wednesday. It also comes a month before Sri Lanka - holds nationwide parliamentary elections.
There was no immediate reaction from Prabhakaran's group, which is based in the country's north.
The split is likely to hamper the efforts of Norwegian negotiators who having been working for two years to secure a peace deal between the rebels and the government.
There was no immediate comment from the government, but top aides to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were expected to meet later Wednesday to discuss the issue.
Sri Lankan army officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than a dozen rebels had traveled from the east to north Wednesday in possible desertions from Karuna's group.
The official said another reason for the split was that Karuna was angered over a spate of unspecified assassinations and attacks in his area in the lead-up to the April 2 elections. He said the violence had been ordered by rebel commanders in the north without Karuna's knowledge.
Two Tamil politicians were killed this week in the area. The politicians had been members of parties controlled by Sri Lanka - 's majority Sinhalese.
The split is likely to complicate the elections. The rebels' northern leadership has appointed supporters to vie under a mainstream Tamil political party the Tamil National Alliance. It was not clear whether Karuna would support the party.
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