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Canada labels LTTE Terrorists
 

Canada became the other country after India to label the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organization making it illegal for anyone in Canada to support, finance, host, or communicate with it. With escalating violence in Sri Lanka, the European Union (EU) had instituted a policy to “not receive LTTE delegations.”

The LTTE has also been accused by human rights groups of kidnapping children to become fighters in their ranks [Insert Feb 17 news summary] and extorting expatriate Sri Lankan Tamil workers in Europe for funds. The Sri Lankan Government accuses the LTTE of targeting population that opposes its methods in the North and East including Tamils who want to participate in the political process, Muslims, and tea garden laborers.

The LTTE has consistently denied these charges but there is increasing evidence that it follows a policy of duplicity in committing a crime and denying it by other means. In the last two days, the LTTE have breached the peace code many times. Their navy men suicidal navy men rammed their boat laden with explosives on a Lankan navy boat killing all sailors, their guerillas triggered of a mine killing Lankan army men going home for leave, and assaulted other posts killing personnel at will.
 

Many see the LTTE strategy as trying to keep the Lankan military in a constant shock and reactive mode denying them space to regroup, strategize, and plan their positions. They followed similar tactics against the Indian Peace Keeping Force in the 80s achieving tactical advantage but losing strategic ground. However, the Indian army is better trained and equipped than the Lankan army that is low is morale, training, and desire for victory. This is the reason for their increased success.

Militarily, not all is going well for the LTTE. A rebel faction led by renegade leader “Karuna,” apart from the LTTE and the Lankan Army, has emerged as another faction terrorizing the population. It is threatening the population with dire consequences if it continues to help the LTTE.

The Canadian move comes a week before the peace talks are to restart in Geneva. If the LTTE is seen as being recalcitrant, the US, Australia, and Europe may follow the Canadian example squeezing the LTTE of financial and diplomatic space. If that should happen, Sri Lanka will see increased violence.

LTTE thrives on chaos—a disunited polity in Sri Lanka, a factional group, and international isolation is just what it needs to resume its operations. With the absence of peace monitors in the North and East, the LTTE will blame all violations on rebels or government agents, target opposition with impunity, and take the war into the capital.