LTTE poses threat to Indian VVIPs

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) might be militarily decimated in Sri Lanka but big neighbour India is not taking any chance. It recently extended the ban against LTTE as an “unlawful association’’ capable even now of jeopardising “VVIP security’’ and compromising India’s “territorial integrity.’’ Sutirtho Patranobis reports.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) might be militarily decimated in Sri Lanka but big neighbour India is not taking any chance. It recently extended the ban against LTTE as an “unlawful association’’ capable even now of jeopardising “VVIP security’’ and compromising India’s “territorial integrity.’’

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The notification’s mention of LTTE’s goal of creating a “Tamil homeland’’ is interesting.

“And, Whereas, the LTTE’s objective for a separate homeland (Tamil Eelam) for all Tamils threatens the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, and amounts to cession and secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union,’’ the gazette notification said.

So, it means that the LTTE’s larger goal — at least according to the Indian government which once trained and nurtured the LTTE — was to carve out a separate country for Tamils comprising members of the community from across the shallow waters of the Palk Strait.

Intriguingly, it added that while the LTTE remnants look upon the Sri Lankan government as “enemies’’ they look upon the Indian government as “traitors’’ — or those who were once trusted but have betrayed that trust.

A political scientist in Colombo said India’s “very specific’’ fears were not surprising and the extension of the ban was expected.