LTTE may move base, Lanka cautions SA

COLOMBO, Oct 29: Amidst reports that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is winding down operations in London in the wake of toug...

COLOMBO, Oct 29: Amidst reports that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is winding down operations in London in the wake of tough anti-terrorism laws in the UK, Sri Lanka has conveyed its “serious concerns” to South Africa that the violent separatist group may shift its headquarters there.

“The South African government has been forewarned about this possibility and they have taken this question on board,” said foreign ministry spokesman Ravinatha Aryasinha. He said South Africa was giving Sri Lankan concerns careful consideration.

In a step to preempt its violent adversary, Sri Lanka recently requested South Africa to send down its envoy to New Delhi (it does not have a mission here) Jerry Matsila to the Sri Lankan capital for a meeting with President Chandrika Kumaratunga and foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

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Matsila’s visit here came two months after protestors in South Africa, clad in traditional Tamil dress, demonstrated outside the venue of the Non Aligned Meet attended byKumaratunga. It was clearly aimed at embarrassing her before a gathering of world leaders, some of whom were till recently liberation fighters.

During the detailed discussions Matsila had here with Kumaratunga and Kadirgamar, he was briefed about reports that the LTTE may soon set up shop in Durban in the eastern Kwazulu Natal province. Analysts believe that the recently enacted anti-terrorist law in the UK might force the LTTE to close down its headquarters in London from where it operates an extensive network of propaganda and fund-raising.

Kwazulu Natal offers a good alternative. Nearly 80 per cent of South Africa’s 65 lakh “Tamil origin” population lives there. Sri Lanka is concerned about reports of strong support for Eelam amongst these people, most of whom are descendants of early indentured labour from Tamil Nadu.

Organisations like the Tamil Eelam Support Movement even canvass finances for the cause, but have said they are raising funds for humanitarian assistance. School societies and othercultural and religious organisations run by Tamils also back the call for Eelam.

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Some Sri Lankan analysts have also harped upon the solidarity that existed between the ANC and the LTTE, when the former was fighting the apartheid regime in South Africa. Recent reports that the LTTE has managed to smuggle in a helicopter from South Africa in knocked down condition to its operational base in northern Sri Lanka have raised concern that the group’s octopus-like arms are already firmly entrenched there.

Through its pro-active diplomacy over the last four years, Sri Lanka has managed to put the LTTE on the US State Department’s list of terrorist organisations, which was seen as a major victory against the group. The new British Act against terrorism has also been welcomed here as a step towards choking the LTTE’s money and weapons supply line in the west. Now, Sri Lanka is hoping for a similar response from South Africa.