TIGERS ACCUSE SRI LANKAN MILITARY
By Frances Harrison

June 21, 2004 - (BBC) Tamil Tiger rebels have accused the Sri Lankan security forces of
aiding and abetting a breakaway rebel commander. They say that such actions could undermine the current ceasefire.

The Tigers split in March when their second highest military leader, Colonel Karuna, said he wanted to run the east of the islands separately.

But since then, four of the colonel's supporters have defected with what they say are details of his collaboration with the Sri Lankan military.

'Escape from jungle'

The Sri Lankan military spokesman has strenuously denied reports that Colonel Karuna has been helped by the security forces.

Our stand remains the same - we have no involvement with any of these groups Military spokesman Colonel Sumedha Perera But the Tigers have produced four senior female fighters - including the former women's military wing head Nilavini - who say they were with
Colonel Karuna when he vanished in April.

They say a Muslim former parliamentarian, Ali Zahir Mowlana, helped them escape from the eastern jungles to the capital.

Mr Mowlana admits he did, but says he acted on humanitarian grounds and had no contact with Colonel Karuna after helping the group get to Colombo.

According to Nilavini, they stayed in the Hilton Hotel in Colombo for four days during which time the leader of a pro-government Tamil militia group, Douglas Devananda, telephoned Colonel Karuna and asked him to join him.

The women fighters say Colonel Karuna told them he had rejected the offer and instead decided to work with army intelligence. Saudi housemaids Nilavini says a group, which included Colonel Karuna's wife and three children, his spokesman Varathan and other rebels, stayed in a safe house in Colombo for eight days before settling into another house in the suburb of Nugegoda near the Apollo Hospital.

There the female rebels say Colonel Karuna had a plain clothes bodyguard armed with a pistol and received visits from what they believe were Sri Lankan intelligence officers.

The four women say they asked to be sent back to their families - but instead Colonel Karuna offered to send them to Saudi Arabia as housemaids.

Nilavini said they were kept locked inside the house but cooked meals together and watched television with Colonel Karuna's family.

On this basis of overheard phone calls, the women allege that Colonel Karuna is linked to the recent killings of prominent civilians in the east.

According to Nilavini, on Friday a driver came to collect Colonel Karuna and his family who said they were going to another country for some months but would return to start a political party.

The four women fighters say they escaped and hired a van and drove to rebel territory in the east where they surrendered.

The Tamil Tigers say the women leaders, who were under armed guard during the news conference, will now be demoted to lower ranks as a punishment.

It may be that security surrounding the women was lax because few would have expected them to take the risk of returning to the Tigers who are renowned for killing traitors.

From:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/3826761.stm