Why Tigers use South India as rear base

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Why Tigers use South India as rear base

By Ranga JayasuriyaOne popular narrative in the Tamil disapora discourse is that the remnant of Tamil Tigers would launch a sea borne invasion of northern Sri Lanka. The story goes on to say that the LTTE cadres who escaped the annihilation in the final battle and later fled to safe havens abroad are now re-grouping. Once the process is completed, the group would land in the northern coast to wage the next phase of the Eelam War. The story is far-fetched as much as many other recent initiatives of the Tiger sympathizers, among which is a demand for a Southern Sudan styled referendum to decide the future of the North-East of Sri Lanka. The story, many assume, is intended to make sure that the diaspora would continue to fund the LTTE’s front organizations, which, in addition to its advocacy of the LTTE’s cause, continue to provide bread and butter for a sizeable number of influential LTTE members assigned to its overseas branches. Recent reports by Canadian federal authorities raised concerns that Canada is emerging as a LTTE base. The reports come in the wake of findings that 32 asylum seekers aboard the migrant ship Sun Sea were held in detention over their alleged involvement with the defeated terrorist group. Sri Lankan Intelligence sources have also raised concern that the remnant of LTTE activists and the middle lever leaders are regrouping in Canada, which has long been the main source of finances for the LTTE due to its 250,000 strong Tamil diaspora. LTTE operatives in Canada are in the process of reorganizing the remnant of LTTE cadres who escaped to India and South East Asia, mainly to Malaysia and Thailand, they add. Members of the LTTE’s smuggling wing have already launched two shiploads of Tamil refugees from South East Asian ports to Canada.LTTE activists in Canada are reviving the network of LTTE owned businesses and charities in order to resume fund raising activities, Sri Lankan intelligence sources say. Low level insurgency
Once the reorganization of the LTTE’s overseas network is completed, thereby reviving the funding source, the Tigers would resume the reorganization of the military wing, say intelligence officials.Though the LTTE has suspended its military struggle, preferring a political struggle through the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, the political struggle alone would not be a sufficient inducement to sustain the interest of the Tamil diaspora in the cause of the LTTE.Therefore, the LTTE would be compelled to resume the armed struggle in the form of a low level insurgency. Hence the LTTE’s mode of struggle would be decided not by choice, but by circumstances.Given the high militarization of the North and East, the possibility of the revival of militant activities is largely constrained. Therefore, reminiscent of its early days, the Tigers would choose South India as their rear base for reorganization, training and planning of attacks.This is a possible scenario, which however needs to take into account the change of India’s policy towards Tamil militancy since 1980, when it actively armed and trained the nascent guerrillas to its manifested aversion to the LTTE at present. Yet, the LTTE could still find a mass of people that is generally sympathetic to the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils.It was against this backdrop that India’s intelligence agencies have alerted Tamil Nadu police that LTTE cadres had infiltrated the South Indian state and were planning to carry out attacks on VVIPs during the run up to India’s assembly elections.Strong LTTE presence
A Chennai based Hindu newspaper reported, quoting unnamed intelligence sources: “The Ministry of Home Affairs had sent alert messages that some LTTE cadres had arrived in Tamil Nadu and were engaged in a training programme at an unknown location.” They were in the process of procuring weapons and explosive substances to execute their plan.It also added that intelligence sources revealed a significant presence of LTTE cadres in Valasaravakkam in Chennai and that some prominent members of the LTTE’s finance and air wings had entered Tamil Nadu.Indian media reports also stated that members of the LTTE’s suicide wing had reached Tamil Nadu via the Palk Straits in the guise of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.During a visit by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Tamil Nadu in January this year, India’s central intelligence agencies alerted that the Tamil Tigers were planning to assassinate the Indian Prime Minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi. The Indian premier visited Tamil Nadu amidst stepped up security. No incident was reported. However, a report from central intelligence agencies states that, the LTTE has reportedly completed the training and procurement of weapons for a major attack as early as December 20 for an attack on VVIPS. But Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Inspector General of Police Letika Saran has denied the presence of LTTE cadres in Tamil Nadu.