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Tamil Tigers say they have gained control of area claimed by rival faction

Associated Press, Sun April 11, 2004 09:15 EDT . DILIP GANGULY-Associated Press Writer-KAJUWATTE, Sri Lanka - (AP) Tamil Tiger rebels claimed Sunday they had regained control of some areas held by renegade guerrillas and would allow civilians to return home for the Buddhist and Hindu New Year, according to a relief worker and Tamil Web site. T. Vasantharaja, the head of Sri Lanka - Red Cross Society in the region, told The Associated Press that the main rebel group said it would allow civilians to return to their homes Monday and Tuesday for the Buddhist and Hindu New Year.It was unclear whether a cease-fire had been called, but fighting had died down over the weekend following Friday's assault by the main rebel body.
``The LTT has advised villagers that they can return to their home starting tomorrow,'' Vasantharaja said, citing villagers.The New Year holiday is celebrated on Tuesday and Wednesday by the country's majority Sinhalese population, which is Buddhist, and the minority Tamils, who are mostly Hindus.Tens of thousands of residents have fled the area where fighters from the main Tamil guerrilla group and the renegade rebel faction have clashed.Many were seen going back to their homes on Sunday.

``Besides people in refugee camps, there were dozens of refugees who were hiding in the jungles,'' said Cecil Hery of the French group Action Against Hunger. He said his organization and other relief agencies had been distributing rice to about 500 families. J. Ruben of the Dutch relief organization ZOA Refugee Care said he saw 13 people wounded from the overnight mopping-up operation. He said three civilians who had suffered shrapnel wounds were handed over to his group, but the others were taken away by the Tamil Tigers.``I saw the northern cadres, who appear to be in full control,'' Ruben said, adding that the rebels were moving about with AK-47 rifles, but no heavy weapons. Military officials have stressed that they want to uphold their two-year truce with the Tamil Tigers. The battles between the guerrilla factions have stayed within rebel areas, but the fighting was barely five kilometers (three miles) away from a military post in Kajuwatte.``We don't want to be dragged into the situation, but will be taking all necessary steps for the safety and security of the people in the government-controlled areas,'' said military spokesman Col. Sumeda Perera.

The two rebel factions have been squared off since a split last month between Muralitharan and longtime LTT chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran in a dispute over regional rivalries and political strategy.

The tropical nation off the southern tip of India has enjoyed two years of relative calm since a cease-fire was struck between the separatist Tamil rebels and the government in February 2002.On Saturday, Muralitharan recalled most of his 6,000 fighters to his Thoppigala base where they set up new defenses. Thoppigala is a jungle area in eastern Sri Lanka - whose main town of Batticaloa is 220 kilometers (135 miles) east of Colombo.The Tamil Tigers have fought government troops for two decades in a bloody separatist conflict which has claimed more than 65,000 lives.