NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
K Venkataramanan in Colombo
An unlimited number of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels will be allowed to enter government-controlled areas of northern and eastern Sri Lanka from Friday for political work, under terms of a truce that has completed 90 days of successful compliance by both sides.
The ceasefire accord signed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and LTTE leader V Prabhakaran came into effect on February 23, and Tiger cadres had been allowed in restricted numbers to indulge in political activity in government-held towns and villages.
Defence officials, quoted by state-run Tamil daily Dinakaran, said LTTE members would be allowed without the need for prior permission into government territory. The only condition is that they should not carry arms or wear their military uniforms.
The LTTE has set up political offices in several towns already, and has also been recruiting volunteers for political work, which essentially involves organising and addressing public meetings and mobilising the Tamil population for propaganda and protest rallies.
Amounting to a de-facto removal of the 1998 ban on the LTTE, the extent of its overt political activity has rendered an official decision on de-proscription a mere formality.
Tell us what you think of this report
