EFL
Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka are facing a major crisis after one of their leaders split to form his own breakaway group.
| That would be the Tamil Elephants? |
| It's easy to split a Tamil leader. Tie either side of him to a Tamil elephant and yell "giddyap!" |
Rebel sources confirmed that Colonel Karuna, a commander in the east, had broken ranks after facing the threat of disciplinary action. The BBC’s Frances Harrison in Colombo says the rift is unprecedented. It is not yet clear why Colonel Karuna, a Tiger commander in the east, has split away. He was thought to be unhappy that the bulk of the rebel fighters come from the east and yet all the top leadership comes from the north of Sri Lanka.
| Cannon fodder's cheaper in the east... |
He told the Associated Press that he had asked the government to negotiate a separate ceasefire agreement for areas under his faction’s control. Our correspondent says this is a virtual declaration of independence from the rebel leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, a man who was brooked no dissent in the past. Rebel sources say it is not clear yet whether some of the thousands of men and women under his command will join him in splitting from the main Tigers group.
| What if they gave a schism and nobody came? |
That would seriously complicate the peace process by dividing the rebel movement into two rival groups in the north and east of Sri Lanka. It is not clear why such grievances should surface now, just as the country is gearing up for general elections next month. |