LTTE’s sinister strategy of survival

The biggest defeat the Sri Lankan government has ever suffered in terms of paving way for the LTTE to emerge as a significant force of destruction took place the soon after the conflict started in 1983. The LTTE was then a little known group of wannabe revolutionist with neither the experience in guerilla warfare nor the motivation to carry out one. But when the attack on the Sri Lankan military left number of soldiers dead, this gave way to a sequence of events that would shape the modern LTTE organization.

The racial riots that followed the attack on the soldiers in 1983 resulted in the murder of 3000 or so Tamils and the destruction of Tamil owned businesses. The government led by JR and a portfolio of ignorant ministers did little to protect the Tamil interests. This was in essence, the most significant victory for the LTTE. The LTTE became the unifying voice for the discontented Tamils and their dollars, especially from the diaspora that was formed as a result of Tamils being granted asylum in the west, came pouring to arm them.

LTTE quickly learnt that its survival and progress depends directly upon the misery of the Tamil people. So while the government and the public have since progressed in terms of policy and actions to find a amicable solution to live peace, the LTTE has done everything to instigate violence and racial tension.

So, 20 years on, the situation remains in an ironic limbo. LTTE which claim to be fighting for the rights of the Tamil people needs desperately to instigate racial tension and back clashes in order to remain in existence. Attack on the southern city of Galle, is no doubt an attempt to do just that.