Author Topic: War in Sri Lanka ended. Tigers finished as military force  (Read 255 times)

ironmike

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8055138.stm

Page last updated at 09:15 GMT, Monday, 18 May 2009 10:15 UK

Tigers finished as military force

As the Sri Lankan army completes its clean-up operation against the last remaining Tamil Tiger rebels, the BBC's South Asia Correspondent Chris Morris looks back at one of Asia's longest-running civil wars.


The Tamil Tigers have been fighting against the Sri Lankan state for more than 25 years, led from the beginning by the elusive and dictatorial Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

Suicide bombing has been a speciality - their victims included Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa and the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The Tigers also allowed no political opposition within Tamil society - opponents were killed, and dissent was stifled.

But at times they enjoyed substantial military success.

In the past, they have controlled significant tracts of northern and eastern Sri Lanka, establishing the trappings of an independent country - including courts and a police force - in areas they regard as the traditional Tamil homeland.

Turning point

Now they are finished as a conventional military force. Their leadership has been decimated, and they no longer control any territory.

It is a turning point in Sri Lanka's recent history.

There are still likely to be scattered guerrilla-style attacks - they already happen in the east of the island.

There could be bombs in cities.

The Tamil Tigers also control huge financial and logistical resources around the world, and they continue to enjoy significant support among expatriate Tamils scattered in many countries.

So much now depends on what the Sri Lankan authorities choose to do next.

The manner in which they pursued their military victory - ignoring international calls for restraint - may have radicalised a new generation of Tamils, both on the island and in the diaspora in Europe, Asia and North America.

There will be international pressure on Sri Lanka to implement a package of political autonomy for Tamil civilians quickly, to try to ensure that this conflict does not reignite with more violence in the future.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has promised that he will introduce political reforms which will satisfy Tamil aspirations.

It is not yet clear exactly what he has in mind, and there may be those in Colombo who want to be less magnanimous in victory than the president himself.

But the dream of Eelam - an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka - has come to an end.

 

ironmike

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Re: War in Sri Lanka ended. Tigers finished as military force
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2009, 03:20:00 AM »
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8054962.stm

Page last updated at 09:15 GMT, Monday, 18 May 2009 10:15 UK

Protest over UK role in Sri Lanka
 
Protesters have burned an effigy of Foreign Secretary David Miliband during a demonstration outside the British High Commission in Sri Lanka.


They accused the UK government of supporting the Tamil Tiger rebels.

More than 1,000 people massed outside the building in Colombo after Sri Lanka leaders claimed victory in the 25-year conflict which has left 70,000 dead.

Protesters threw rotten eggs and stones at the embassy compound, before tossing the burning effigy over its walls.

A spokesman from the commission said some of the compound's stonework was damaged, graffiti was sprayed on the walls and a CCTV camera was blacked out during the hour-long protest.

"There was no damage to the inner compound, and no-one from the commission has been injured," he added.

Ceasefire calls

Mr Miliband has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the conflict and for civilians to be allowed to leave the war-torn northern area.

The UK said on Sunday it would give another £5m in aid to Sri Lanka amid concerns for those trapped in the zone where the last rebels remain.

Fighting was reported to be continuing in the zone on Monday, with four senior Tamil Tiger leaders killed during clashes.

Sri Lanka's army says the last rebel fighters have been penned in to a 1.5km-square patch of jungle.

Hundreds of Tamil supporters in London are also continuing to protest over the conflict, which is estimated to have killed up to 8,000 people this year.

Announcing the aid, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "It is vital that the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers allow international agencies immediate access to the thousands of people driven from their homes by the fighting."

The UK aid will go towards providing essentials such as shelter, water, sanitation and medical care and, when possible, supporting displaced people in making a "dignified and safe" return to their homes.

 


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/cYqh2njJ4K4" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/cYqh2njJ4K4</a>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8055190.stm
Sri Lankans burn effigy of Miliband (video)
« Last Edit: May 18, 2009, 03:23:22 AM by ironmike »
 

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Re: War in Sri Lanka ended. Tigers finished as military force
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2009, 03:12:21 PM »
WHAT THE FUCK IS SRI LANKA LOL
 

LAXCENTRAL

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Re: War in Sri Lanka ended. Tigers finished as military force
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2009, 09:28:20 PM »
WE NEVER WENT TO WAR AGAINST SRI LANKA...
SO YOU DON HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT IT