Home>News Center>World
         
 

Tigers warning over autonomy fight
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-06 09:53

Tamil Tiger rebels have warned they would fight if their demands to establish a sovereign Tamil state in Sri Lanka were not met.

In their first reaction to parliamentary elections won by hardline President Chandrika Kumaratunga's political alliance, the Tigers said minority Tamils made it clear they wanted autonomy.

The rebels said they hoped a political solution would be found.

If not, "the Tamil people will fight to establish the Tamil sovereignty in their homeland," a pro-rebel TamilNet Web site said, quoting a guerrilla communique.

The rebels' proxy party, Tamil National Alliance, emerged as the third largest party in Friday's vote with 22 seats in the 225-member Parliament.

Kumaratunga's political alliance garnered 105 and the outgoing prime minister's party secured 82 seats.

By giving Tamil National Alliance "a historic victory, the Tamil people have ... sent a clear message" that they want broad autonomy, TamilNet said.

The rebels fought for 19 years for a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils. Nearly 65,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

The Tigers signed a cease-fire in February 2002, but peace talks have been on hold for the last year.

The rebels made no direct reference to Kumaratunga, who has refused to give them the degree of autonomy they want, or to the resumption of peace talks.

The United States has urged Sri Lanka to quickly resume the talks.

"We look forward working with the new government," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement released before the final results were announced.

"We hope that the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam will return to the negotiating table as quickly as possible to forge a lasting peace."

 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Oil finds of 280m tons to ease national thirst

 

   
 

Lien Chan files suit for new poll

 

   
 

Constitution helps man fight for home

 

   
 

Troublemakers 'try to plunge HK into turmoil'

 

   
 

Japan and EU seek roles in chip talk

 

   
 

Judge jailed for 'lenient sentence' of rapist

 

   
  Rajapakse named new Sri Lankan PM
   
  Cleric: Iraq's Sadr turns down peace appeal
   
  Russian nuclear expert convicted of spying
   
  Spain makes new arrest in Madrid bombings
   
  Flash flood in northern Mexico kills 29
   
  IKEA denies 'richest man' report
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Rajapakse named new Sri Lankan PM
   
Voting begins in Sri Lanka
   
S.Lanka political showdown overshadows civil war
   
Paralysis in Sri Lanka, President clamps emergency
  News Talk  
  April Fool's!  
Advertisement