Tamil Tigers agree to lift water blockade

SRI LANKA’S Tamil Tiger rebels yesterday agreed to lift a two-week-old water blockade on government-held villages that has provoked some of the fiercest fighting in years.

The rebels decided to end the blockade after talks with Norwegian peace envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer. But they said the move was conditional and could be reversed if the government resumes attacks on rebels.

“Our national leader has decided to open the sluice gate in response to a request made by Norway,” said Tamil Tiger political leader SP Thamilselvan, referring to Velupillai Prabhakaran, the secretive leader of the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam.

The rebels shut down a reservoir last month, drying up the water supply to 60,000 people. The military responded with air strikes and a ground assault.

The government reacted sceptically to the rebels’ announcement.

Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said: “The control of the water supply should be on the sovereign government of Sri Lanka, and the terrorists should vacate from the areas. We will have to wait and see, water should not be made a political tool.”

Sri Lankan soldiers said on Saturday that they had regained control over the town of Muttur after six days of fighting around the north-eastern port town of Trincomalee. They urged thousands of displaced people to return home.

The rebels did not admit defeat, insisting they had withdrawn from Muttur.

A surge in fighting has threatened to drag Sri Lanka back into civil war, four years after the two sides reached a ceasefire brokered by Norway.

Mr Thamilselvan demanded the government stop its offensives and address water and other humanitarian needs of ethnic Tamils living in rebel-held areas.

“We will consider any future air strikes or attacks by the government as their withdrawal from the ceasefire,” he said.