Breaking News

[Mathan]

Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers in crisis

<img src='http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39920000/jpg/_39920725_tamils_ap_203body.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
The rift could cast a shadow over peace moves

<b>Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka are facing a major crisis after one of their leaders split to form his own breakaway group.</b>

Rebel sources confirmed that Colonel Karuna, a commander in the east, had broken ranks after facing the threat of disciplinary action.

The Tigers' leadership earlier admitted there was a crisis in the movement, but insisted it was only temporary.

The BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo says the rift is unprecedented.

<b>Independence move</b>

It is not yet clear why Colonel Karuna, a Tiger commander in the east, has split away.

He was thought to be unhappy that the bulk of the rebel fighters come from the east and yet all the top leadership comes from the north of Sri Lanka.

He told the Associated Press that he had asked the government to negotiate a separate ceasefire agreement for areas under his faction's control.

"We think it's very important to have a separate defence pact with the security forces," Colonel Karuna told AP at his jungle hide-out in Batticaloa.

Our correspondent says this is a virtual declaration of independence from the rebel leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, a man who was brooked no dissent in the past.

Few could have predicted the crisis, she says, in a disciplined and secretive guerrilla movement like the Tigers.

Colonel Karuna was part of the Tamil Tiger team taking part in peace talks.

<b>Rival groups</b>

His move could complicate peace moves, putting the Norwegian mediators and the Sri Lankan government in a difficult position.

If they negotiate with Colonel Karuna, they will incur the wrath of the northern leadership, our correspondent says.

Rebel sources say it is not clear yet whether some of the thousands of men and women under his command will join him in splitting from the main Tigers group.

That would seriously complicate the peace process by dividing the rebel movement into two rival groups in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

It is not clear why such grievances should surface now, just as the country is gearing up for general elections next month.

<b>Election issue</b>

A pro-rebel website, Tamilnet, earlier quoted the head of the Tigers' political wing, saying the crisis was only temporary and would be resolved soon.

The reports of a rift in the Tigers' leadership prompted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to hold an emergency meeting with officials and diplomats on Wednesday.

And the head of the Norwegian-led Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission, Trond Furuhovde, flew to the north for a crisis meeting with the Tiger leadership on Thursday.

"They had a good constructive meeting," SLMM peace monitor spokeswoman Agnes Bragadottir said.

The peace process is in a state of limbo at present with the prime minister and President Chandrika Kumaratunga divided on the best way of bringing an end to a conflict that has killed more than 60,000 people.

The debate over the peace process is expected to be one of the main issues in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Last Updated: Thursday, 4 March, 2004, 20:51 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3532481.stm