LTTE will use Saarc meet to get attention

COLOMBO, July 21: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is planning civilian protest marches in its strongholds to coincide with the SAARC summit, beginning Wednesday, to attract attention of the seven South Asian leaders and hordes of foreign journalists who will arrive to cover the event. Sources said that in areas under its control in Vanni, the LTTE has reactivated various citizens’ committees which it had banned earlier and directed them to hold a series of meetings, conferences, demonstrations and protest marches about the miserable conditions of civilians in the region.

Deaths and injuries caused to civilians during aerial bombardment in these areas by the Sri Lankan Air Force, shortage of food, non-availability of medicines and the outbreak of diseases like typhoid, malaria and cholera will form the theme of these activities, Tamil sources said. Bodies like the teachers’ committee, peace committee, parents’ association and others have also been ordered to get their act together quickly toorganise these activities. An LTTE representative has been nominated to each of the committees, the sources said.

Engaged in a make-or-break war with the Sri Lankan armed forces in the Vanni region, the Tigers have been demanding an end to the military operation on the grounds that it has caused untold misery to the civilian population in the conflict zone.

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It has also demanded negotiations with the government, if necessary, with the help of a facilitator. The government has rejected both demands and has countered allegations that it has cut food rations for Vanni civilians.

Sources said that the LTTE is planning to send an appeal to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other SAARC leaders, “to enlighten them of the real plight of the civilians”. The Tigers propose to send the appeal through representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the government agent in Mullaithivu. According to the LTTE , there are over three lakh civilians living in the war-torn Vanni. Whilethe majority are those who belong to the region, several thousands fled there from Jaffna peninsula.