Tamil Tigers release Sri Lankan hostages

Tamil Tiger rebels freed two Sri Lankan government security guards held hostage for more than two months today.

“The guards have been released and are on their way back,” Hagrup Haukland, the Norwegian deputy chief of the peace monitors, said.

The rebels snatched the guards on August 10 from the eastern town of Trincomalee, saying they would be released if 10 insurgents being held by the government on weapons charges were freed.

The government released the 10 guerrillas on bail on Thursday. The following day the monitoring mission demanded the immediate release of the abductees, warning that the kidnappings had damaged already strained relations between the two sides.

The Tamil Tigers “informed us a few hours ago by telephone they would release the guards today,” Haukland said.

A team of monitors – who are helping to maintain a two-year truce between the government and the rebels - was dispatched to rebel-held territory to accompany the guards back.

A three-member government delegation also flew by helicopter to Trincomalee to welcome the guards – Sarath Bandara and Chandana Piyasiri – who were employed to protect Sinhalese-majority villages around the town from rebel attacks. The Tigers maintain a strong presence in the area.

Their families and local residents have staged protests and fasts to press for their release.

The Tamil Tigers began their violent campaign against the government in 1983 to create a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, accusing majority Sinhalese of discrimination.

About 65,000 people were killed in the conflict before the truce was signed in February 2002.

Subsequent peace talks broke down in April 2003 and efforts to resume negotiations have so far been futile.