LTTE carries terror to a new high - Tribune

INDIA: Even by the predatory standards of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the shelling of a helicopter carrying diplomats in Batticaloa is unprecedented, stated India’s Tribune newspaper in its editorial yesterday.

It said: “Mercifully, the ambassadors of the United States, Italy and Germany were only slightly injured along with 10 others and other diplomats in the delegation escaped unhurt.

It is typical, if not outrageously cheeky, of the LTTE - which opened artillery fire against the helicopter - to blame the Government of Sri Lanka for their wanton act of terrorism by taking the plea that they were not informed of the diplomats’ travel itinerary.

The international delegation needs no further evidence of the LTTE”s terrorism.

The human rights situation in eastern Sri Lanka, which the diplomats had set out to see for themselves, could not have been brought home with greater force, particularly the LTTE’s utter disregard for human life.

The LTTE has sophisticated military and communication equipment, besides an intelligence outfit. Therefore, the plea of being in the dark about the diplomats’ mission and the helicopter that was targeted, is hard to believe.

It would appear that they will stop at nothing in their military campaign for a separate Tamil Eelam.

Unlike the United States, which is closer to India’s view of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation, which - despite its protestations about being interested in negotiations - should be allowed no quarter unless it renounces armed war, a section of the European Union and Japan take a surprisingly charitable view of the Tamil Tigers.

It is time those who deluded themselves about the Tamil Tigers saw the LTTE for what it really was.

At the same time, there should be realisation that the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils are hardly advanced by the kind of terrorism to which the island as well as its minority are held hostage.”