03-08-2004, 02:16 PM
Peace envoy heads for Sri Lanka
<b>A Norwegian envoy is due in Sri Lanka as a split in Tamil Tiger rebel ranks threatens the peace process. Erik Solheim is scheduled to review a two year ceasefire agreement between the rebels and the government. </b>
But his visit is likely to be dominated by a crisis among the rebels, sparked last week after a renegade commander broke ranks.
The commander, Colonel Karuna, was expelled for his action, but remains in his eastern stronghold of Batticaloa.
On Monday, extra security forces were deployed in the town.
"We have extra police in the street, but there is no tension," senior police superintendent, Lasantha de Silva, said.
A spokesman for Colonel Karuna told the AFP news agency that everything possible would be done to avoid violence.
"We don't want to see any more bloodshed on our soil, but it depends on the [northern] leadership," he said.
<b>'Death threat' </b>
On Sunday, Colonel Karuna - whose real name is Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan - said he had received reports that death squads had been sent to target him.
In one town, they even burned a large effigy with a photograph of the rebel leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in a show of defiance that would have been unthinkable even a week ago, says the BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo.
Tamils in the area fear they may be asked to choose whether they are loyal to the mainstream of the movement or the breakaway commander, our correspondent says.
Reports have suggested that Colonel Karuna is unhappy that the bulk of the rebel fighters come from eastern Sri Lanka, and yet all the top leadership comes from the north.
A top defence ministry official said on Friday that the government could not agree to Colonel Karuna's request for a separate defence pact.
From www.bbc.co.uk
<b>A Norwegian envoy is due in Sri Lanka as a split in Tamil Tiger rebel ranks threatens the peace process. Erik Solheim is scheduled to review a two year ceasefire agreement between the rebels and the government. </b>
But his visit is likely to be dominated by a crisis among the rebels, sparked last week after a renegade commander broke ranks.
The commander, Colonel Karuna, was expelled for his action, but remains in his eastern stronghold of Batticaloa.
On Monday, extra security forces were deployed in the town.
"We have extra police in the street, but there is no tension," senior police superintendent, Lasantha de Silva, said.
A spokesman for Colonel Karuna told the AFP news agency that everything possible would be done to avoid violence.
"We don't want to see any more bloodshed on our soil, but it depends on the [northern] leadership," he said.
<b>'Death threat' </b>
On Sunday, Colonel Karuna - whose real name is Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan - said he had received reports that death squads had been sent to target him.
In one town, they even burned a large effigy with a photograph of the rebel leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in a show of defiance that would have been unthinkable even a week ago, says the BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo.
Tamils in the area fear they may be asked to choose whether they are loyal to the mainstream of the movement or the breakaway commander, our correspondent says.
Reports have suggested that Colonel Karuna is unhappy that the bulk of the rebel fighters come from eastern Sri Lanka, and yet all the top leadership comes from the north.
A top defence ministry official said on Friday that the government could not agree to Colonel Karuna's request for a separate defence pact.
From www.bbc.co.uk
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