03-30-2004, 08:33 AM
Cracks appear in Tamil Tigers' power
Tue 30 March, 2004 04:35
By Lindsay Beck
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - A splash of motor oil on a monument honouring a Tamil Tiger martyr is a rare sign of dissent in northern Sri Lanka, where the rebels have run things for two decades.
The message is clear. Their strong-arm tactics are no longer welcome.
Many residents say they supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in their 20-year war for a separate state, feeling it was the rebels who would look out for the interests of the island's minority Tamil community.
"I never liked the LTTE. We supported them because they were fighting for our cause. But they used the iron fist. We don't need that anymore," said one resident of Jaffna, the heart of the Tigers' struggle, where bombs have turned whole city blocks into empty fields.
The surprise breakaway of a renegade eastern commander has become a powerful example of the changing Tamil expectations of the LTTE two years into a peace process with the government.
"Karuna made a strong break," he said. "I think that is a very good thing. People are afraid of the LTTE here, but I think it will have an impact in their minds the next time something happens they don't like."
Karuna -- the nom de guerre of eastern commander V. Muralitharan -- created an unprecedented rift among fighters known for their loyalty to the Tigers' northern leader Velupillai Prabhakaran when he broke from the group in early March -- along with 6,000 troops.
That shattered the discipline of a movement known to spare no dissenters, prompting the rebel leadership to threaten to kill Karuna, and warning fighters loyal to him they would be "responsible for the consequences".
Although the Tigers still wield unquestioned authority throughout the north -- and such writs make clear they intend to keep it -- cracks have begun to appear in their grip on power.
Besides the motor oil tossed on the hero's statue, another martyr's monument is overgrown with anthills and recently a Tiger cadre was refused entry to a cricket match when he had no ticket.
Small acts of dissent that officials say add up to something significant.
"These aren't big things, but they are in a way a reflection of the morale of the people here. I was surprised to see them," said one official in Jaffna.
<b>CHALLENGE AT THE POLLS</b>
The split has also challenged the Tigers' claim to be the sole voice of the Tamil people -- a view already being put to the test by the island's general election, in which Tamil candidates from parties opposed to the rebel-backed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are set to win seats.
"People are confused. They (the LTTE) say they are the sole representatives, but how can you see that? Inside the LTTE even that unity is not there," said Douglas Devananda, who heads the Eelam People's Democratic Party.
Whether through the TNA at the April 2 polls, or at peace talks which could give the Tigers a power-sharing agreement for the north and east, the rebels are moving from guerrilla group to governance.
That has people judging them by a different set of standards, and when the Tigers expelled Karuna and called him a traitor to the Tamil people, it set a worrying example of how they deal with what many saw as a legitimate grievance.
"People think, if this happens with their own cadre, they wonder -- if there is an interim administration, will people have any chance at freedom of speech," said a Jaffna priest.
He said many felt Karuna was right in saying Tamils from the north were treated better than those from the east, but that the Tigers refused to accept a legitimate complaint.
"They just refuse and deny," said the priest.
Despite the whispers of discontent, others said that as a minority in the island dominated by the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese it was important for Tamils to present a united front and Karuna had weakened their cause.
"We are a small community. To break apart will weaken us," said a retired teacher from Jaffna who gave his name only as Arumanayagam.
It remains to be seen how long the Tigers will tolerate the split or any quiet challenges to their authority it may have helped inspire.
"The LTTE's nature is basically as a militaristic organisation," said Kethesh Loganathan, of the independent Centre for Policy Alternatives.
"It is certainly not in keeping with the LTTE to ignore a challenge of this nature."
Thanx: Reuters
Tue 30 March, 2004 04:35
By Lindsay Beck
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - A splash of motor oil on a monument honouring a Tamil Tiger martyr is a rare sign of dissent in northern Sri Lanka, where the rebels have run things for two decades.
The message is clear. Their strong-arm tactics are no longer welcome.
Many residents say they supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in their 20-year war for a separate state, feeling it was the rebels who would look out for the interests of the island's minority Tamil community.
"I never liked the LTTE. We supported them because they were fighting for our cause. But they used the iron fist. We don't need that anymore," said one resident of Jaffna, the heart of the Tigers' struggle, where bombs have turned whole city blocks into empty fields.
The surprise breakaway of a renegade eastern commander has become a powerful example of the changing Tamil expectations of the LTTE two years into a peace process with the government.
"Karuna made a strong break," he said. "I think that is a very good thing. People are afraid of the LTTE here, but I think it will have an impact in their minds the next time something happens they don't like."
Karuna -- the nom de guerre of eastern commander V. Muralitharan -- created an unprecedented rift among fighters known for their loyalty to the Tigers' northern leader Velupillai Prabhakaran when he broke from the group in early March -- along with 6,000 troops.
That shattered the discipline of a movement known to spare no dissenters, prompting the rebel leadership to threaten to kill Karuna, and warning fighters loyal to him they would be "responsible for the consequences".
Although the Tigers still wield unquestioned authority throughout the north -- and such writs make clear they intend to keep it -- cracks have begun to appear in their grip on power.
Besides the motor oil tossed on the hero's statue, another martyr's monument is overgrown with anthills and recently a Tiger cadre was refused entry to a cricket match when he had no ticket.
Small acts of dissent that officials say add up to something significant.
"These aren't big things, but they are in a way a reflection of the morale of the people here. I was surprised to see them," said one official in Jaffna.
<b>CHALLENGE AT THE POLLS</b>
The split has also challenged the Tigers' claim to be the sole voice of the Tamil people -- a view already being put to the test by the island's general election, in which Tamil candidates from parties opposed to the rebel-backed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are set to win seats.
"People are confused. They (the LTTE) say they are the sole representatives, but how can you see that? Inside the LTTE even that unity is not there," said Douglas Devananda, who heads the Eelam People's Democratic Party.
Whether through the TNA at the April 2 polls, or at peace talks which could give the Tigers a power-sharing agreement for the north and east, the rebels are moving from guerrilla group to governance.
That has people judging them by a different set of standards, and when the Tigers expelled Karuna and called him a traitor to the Tamil people, it set a worrying example of how they deal with what many saw as a legitimate grievance.
"People think, if this happens with their own cadre, they wonder -- if there is an interim administration, will people have any chance at freedom of speech," said a Jaffna priest.
He said many felt Karuna was right in saying Tamils from the north were treated better than those from the east, but that the Tigers refused to accept a legitimate complaint.
"They just refuse and deny," said the priest.
Despite the whispers of discontent, others said that as a minority in the island dominated by the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese it was important for Tamils to present a united front and Karuna had weakened their cause.
"We are a small community. To break apart will weaken us," said a retired teacher from Jaffna who gave his name only as Arumanayagam.
It remains to be seen how long the Tigers will tolerate the split or any quiet challenges to their authority it may have helped inspire.
"The LTTE's nature is basically as a militaristic organisation," said Kethesh Loganathan, of the independent Centre for Policy Alternatives.
"It is certainly not in keeping with the LTTE to ignore a challenge of this nature."
Thanx: Reuters
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