03-09-2004, 05:57 PM
Sri Lanka Rebel Refuses to Cede Power
By SHIMALI SENANAYAKE
Associated Press Writer
BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka (AP)--A renegade Tamil Tiger commander refused to relinquish power Tuesday, deepening a rebel rift that threatens to derail peace efforts aimed at ending the country's 20-year civil war.
Rebel leaders announced Saturday they were expelling commander Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, also known as Karuna, from their ranks after he withdrew 6,000 fighters in a dispute with the Tigers' top leader over troop deployment. The rebels have 15,000 fighters nationwide.
But Muralitharan said Tuesday that he is not stepping down despite a promise by the rebels' top leader that he can leave the guerrilla army without repercussions.
Muralitharan had claimed rebel leaders were targeting him for assassination. In the past, rebels have executed their expelled members, branding them traitors.
Roman Catholic bishop Kingly Swampillai delivered the rebels' amnesty offer to Muralitharan on Monday.
``At the moment there is not only potential, but probability of a war,'' Swampillai told The Associated Press. ``The two people did not show any sign of acceptance. They said they will convey the message to their leader. They also said they are ready for war.''
The split comes ahead of April 2 parliamentary elections and as Norway is launching a new bid to keep alive Sri Lanka's peace process. About 65,000 people were killed during two decades of fighting before a cease-fire was signed by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam and the government in February 2002.
On Tuesday, government troops were patrolling Batticaloa, Muralitharan's stronghold, about 135 miles east of Colombo.
By SHIMALI SENANAYAKE
Associated Press Writer
BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka (AP)--A renegade Tamil Tiger commander refused to relinquish power Tuesday, deepening a rebel rift that threatens to derail peace efforts aimed at ending the country's 20-year civil war.
Rebel leaders announced Saturday they were expelling commander Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, also known as Karuna, from their ranks after he withdrew 6,000 fighters in a dispute with the Tigers' top leader over troop deployment. The rebels have 15,000 fighters nationwide.
But Muralitharan said Tuesday that he is not stepping down despite a promise by the rebels' top leader that he can leave the guerrilla army without repercussions.
Muralitharan had claimed rebel leaders were targeting him for assassination. In the past, rebels have executed their expelled members, branding them traitors.
Roman Catholic bishop Kingly Swampillai delivered the rebels' amnesty offer to Muralitharan on Monday.
``At the moment there is not only potential, but probability of a war,'' Swampillai told The Associated Press. ``The two people did not show any sign of acceptance. They said they will convey the message to their leader. They also said they are ready for war.''
The split comes ahead of April 2 parliamentary elections and as Norway is launching a new bid to keep alive Sri Lanka's peace process. About 65,000 people were killed during two decades of fighting before a cease-fire was signed by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam and the government in February 2002.
On Tuesday, government troops were patrolling Batticaloa, Muralitharan's stronghold, about 135 miles east of Colombo.
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