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Tamil Eelam Air Force pilots after their first claimed mission. Photo LTTE |
Following the LTTE’s air raid on Sri Lanka’s main airbase Monday, the Sri Lankan government claimed the Tiger plans posed a threat to the region, implicitely calling on India to help it defeat the movement.
But India reacted with caution and reserve, saying India was concerned about the general escalation of violence and saying the airstrike was only one incident in this regard.
"We are very concerned at the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka in the last few weeks. The incident is one part of the violent incidents that we have seen,” Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shanker Menon said.
“The humanitarian consequences really worry us, when you see thousands of internally displaced people," rediff.com quoted Menon as saying.
He underplayed the air strike by the LTTE, and said, "To pick on an individual incident of violence will not help solve the root cause of the problem. The root cause of the problem is the conflict that has escalated the violence in last few weeks."
Menon avoided responding to a query on whether LTTE's air power as such posed a threat to India.
Instead he insisted that a solution to the protracted conflict is the real issue.
"We will join the voice within Sri Lanka and abroad who would hope that violence comes to an end soon and that they can find a solution to this conflict, a solution that enables all the communities in Sri Lanka to live together in peace," Menon added.
Meanwhile, Indian security officials told Indian media that they don't see the LTTE attacking Indian interests anywhere, including in Tamil Nadu, which is separated from Sri Lanka by a strip of sea.
A joint statement by thirteen political parties supportive of the hardline position of the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse condemned the attack.
“The air power of a frenzied and desperate organization as the LTTE is a grave threat aimed not only to Sri Lanka but also to the entire South Asian region,” the statement said.
“We call upon the international community to make a proper assessment of this very real danger and draw its serious attention to all actions taken both locally and abroad by these separatist terrorist forces in Sri Lanka,” it said.
“The LTTE is the only terrorist group in the world to have air capability,” Sri Lankan minister for trade, commerce and highways, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, told reporters.
Although stating they don’t see a risk to Indian interests, some officials in Delhi described the LTTE’s acquisition of air power as a concern.
"It is a very, very serious development," one Indian security official said on the condition of anonymity told the Times of India.
He added that if a LTTE aircraft could take off from Tigers-controlled Mullaitivu district, fly all the way to Colombo, bomb and return to base, then Tamil Nadu too could be easily accessed.
Another official told the Times: "it is a great demonstration of their tactical ability. They have shown what they are capable of."
Another official added: "It shows the LTTE can widen the conflict. We don't know what else is in the offing."
Two years ago India public aired its concern about the existence of military aircraft with LTTE.
In response, SP Thamilchelvan, the LTTE political wing, said: "all our organisation's structures and efforts are aimed at protecting our people. This is not in any way a threat to any other country in general, particularly India. India or the Indian people need not fear this. The surprise and concern voiced by India surprises us."
