Tamil Tiger leader claims US could use aid effort as cover for spy ring

AMERICAN and Indian troops engaged in relief efforts for Sri Lanka might use the operation as a cover to spy on Tamil Tiger rebels, giving intelligence to the government to help it fight the insurgents, a rebel leader claimed yesterday.

“The attempt by the American and Indian troops to land in Sri Lanka is totally based on their political and military interests,” Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation leader Nallathamby Srikantha said.

“They may try to collect details to help the government crush the Tamil national struggle in a future conflict,” Mr Srikantha said. “We have to think how America, which still has the Tamil Tigers in its terrorist list ... will use its troops here.”

The US has said it will deploy about 1,500 marines to Sri Lanka, along with helicopters and hovercraft.

“The military presence is strictly for humanitarian purposes,” said US embassy spokesman Philip Frayne.

A party of marines has already arrived in Sri Lanka. Captain Peter Wilson said the troops will help repair roads and bridges and in the distribution of food.

India also lists the Tigers as a terrorist group. But Mr Srikantha said past military experience on the island would limit India’s role. Between 1987-90, about 1,200 Indian soldiers died there fighting the rebels.

Tamil Tigers have fought a 20-year civil war demanding a separate state for the ethnic minority Tamils. About 65,000 people died in the conflict until a 2002 ceasefire.