By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Three Tamil Tiger suicide boats attempted to ram two Sri Lankan Navy freighters off the island’s northern coast last Wednesday.  The Navy said that it fired upon the terrorist boats, exploding two and capsizing the third.  It claims that it destroyed two of the suicide boats, while the Tigers only slightly injured one of its ships.  The Tigers, on the other hand, said that they had sunk one of the Navy ships and gravely damaged the other.

The suicide attack occurred within a few miles of Mullaittivu, located within the Jaffa peninsula, where 230,000 refugees are trapped in the rebel stronghold.  The ships were transporting food and supplies to these people when they were fired upon.  “By attacking these ships, the Tiger terrorists are trying to disrupt the smooth flow of essential items to Jaffna and thereby create a humanitarian crisis in the region,” stated the government.

In contrast, pro-rebel websites report that the ships were transporting military supplies for civilians under the guise of essential goods.

The Sri Lankan government has received diplomatic pressure from India to resolve this conflict by addressing the needs of the Tamil minority politically, through the election process.  The government stated that it would do so after recapturing northern Sri Lanka from the rebels.

The government stated that it was determined to put an end to the conflict by the end of 2008.  In addition to receiving opposition from the government, the Mahasohon Balajaya threatens to kill any lawyer that defends Tamils in terrorist related cases.  The group is acting in outrage against the thousands of casualties resulting from Tiger bombings.  These threats were sent to human rights attorneys and court registrars.

The conflict has been ongoing since 1983.  The Tamil Tigers seek secession from Sri Lanka to create a homeland for the Tamil minority.

For more information, please see:

Newsweek – Letter from Jaffna – 16 October 2008

Reuters – Sri Lanka Says Tiger Suicide Boats Attack Aid Ships – 22 October 2008

Times Online – Suicide Boats Are Sunk as Tamil Tigers Take War to Freighters – 23 October 2008