One of the longest ongoing civil wars may come to an end.
Ferrous Oxide
05-02-2009, 08:13
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25012235-2703,00.html
THE Sri Lankan Government has reportedly rejected a US-led call to negotiate terms of surrender by the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said he would only accept the complete surrender of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who are facing imminent defeat, the Island newspaper reported.
Sri Lanka's key international backers - the US, European Union, Japan and Norway - have asked the Tigers to lay down their arms, negotiate terms of surrender and take part in a political dialogue.
``Nothing could be as ridiculous as this,'' Mr Rajapakse said. ``Nothing short of unconditional surrender of arms and cadres could bring an end to the offensive.''
Yesterday Sri Lanka's President said the rebels will be "completely defeated in a few days", as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for a "no-fire period" to evacuate casualties and allow in relief.
So, will the Tamil Tigers insurgency finally end?
greed and death
05-02-2009, 08:15
No every time they come enar defeat a bunch of Indians send them money food and more guns.
Tmutarakhan
05-02-2009, 08:17
The Sri Lankan offensive has killed one to three thousand civilians (no-one is really counting) including a hundred or so at a hospital they shelled (they said, probably accurately, that the Tigers were firing from it). This started about the same time as the Israeli incursion to Gaza, but drew comparatively little discussion.
One-O-One
05-02-2009, 08:19
No, because the Sri Lankan military there is akin to a foreign power occupying.
There will always be resistance, and that will take form in guerilla warfare.
Imperial isa
05-02-2009, 09:02
they been saying completely defeated in a few days for how long now ?
greed and death
05-02-2009, 10:17
they been saying completely defeated in a few days for how long now ?
just a decade or two i am sure.
Dododecapod
05-02-2009, 10:24
No, because the Sri Lankan military there is akin to a foreign power occupying.
There will always be resistance, and that will take form in guerilla warfare.
Er, you do realise that the two groups on the island used to get along reasonably well, don't you?
The Sri-Lankan government may have had it's part in starting this thing but calling it a foreign power is way inaccurate.
Personally, I hope the Government sticks to it's guns and finishes this thing.
Dododecapod
05-02-2009, 10:26
just a decade or two i am sure.
More like two months. It's taken longer than expected, but the Tigers really are up against the wall - they have no bases, no ports, and nowhere to run.
I V Stalin
05-02-2009, 11:50
just a decade or two i am sure.
Considering Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass have now been taken by the Lankan army, the LTTE now only has Jaffna...and no supply routes. And considering the government's current and recent actions and words on the situation, I'd be surprised if the LTTE isn't defeated in the next few weeks. Whether they'll get their leader, Prabhakaran, or not is another matter.
greed and death
05-02-2009, 12:01
Considering Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass have now been taken by the Lankan army, the LTTE now only has Jaffna...and no supply routes. And considering the government's current and recent actions and words on the situation, I'd be surprised if the LTTE isn't defeated in the next few weeks. Whether they'll get their leader, Prabhakaran, or not is another matter.
yeah all they can do is retreat into the jungle and become an insurgency. but who fears and insurgency ?? They never held up major powers or anything.
I V Stalin
05-02-2009, 12:31
yeah all they can do is retreat into the jungle and become an insurgency. but who fears and insurgency ?? They never held up major powers or anything.
That would be somewhat difficult, what with there being no jungle in the north/north-west. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Sri_Lanka#Ecological_zones)
Dododecapod
05-02-2009, 12:43
yeah all they can do is retreat into the jungle and become an insurgency. but who fears and insurgency ?? They never held up major powers or anything.
No, they literally have NOWHERE to go. They've been penned into the Peninsula, and the only way out would be through the Army.
They've been an insurgency. They've been an occupying army. At both, the LTTE has comprehensively failed.
No, because the Sri Lankan military there is akin to a foreign power occupying.
There will always be resistance, and that will take form in guerilla warfare.
Indeed.
Call to power
05-02-2009, 13:23
good show the LTTE are not nice people and its about time they were routed out
Cosmopoles
05-02-2009, 13:35
The last time the Tigers were comprehensively defeated they changed tactics from an organied military force to suicide bombing targets across the country. I can't see why that wouldn't happen again.
Dododecapod
05-02-2009, 13:46
The last time the Tigers were comprehensively defeated they changed tactics from an organied military force to suicide bombing targets across the country. I can't see why that wouldn't happen again.
Last time they enjoyed comprehensive support from the Tamil peoples. Today, the government has changed a lot of the policies the Tamils felt were oppressing them, and the LTTE has A) lost a lot of it's luster due to "wartime regulations" (i.e. conscription, taxation) and B) lost a fair number of it's leadership. If they get Prabhakaran, it's all over.