The independence the LTTE asks cannot be granted, and should not be granted, not only because no state is willing to accept such a blow to its sovereignty but also because, the LTTE, under the leadership of Mr.
Prabhakaran, is above all, a totalitarian movement. 

This was the observation of Dr. Gerard Chaliand, former Director of the European Center for the Study of Conflicts, delivering the Keynote Address at the Inauguration of the recent International Conference on Countering Terrorism held in Colombo.

Dr. Chailand said: "In the case of LTTE, it is well known that they are at the same time able to confront and sometimes defeat the Sri Lankan army in conventional battles that has happened in the past. They use guerrilla tactics. They are also the most efficient terrorist movement in the world at present. They also have an embryo of navy and paradoxically an embryo of air force. 

The independence they ask cannot be granted, and should not be granted, not only because no state is willing to accept such a blow to its sovereignty
but also because, like the Shining Path, LTTE, under the leadership of Mr. Prabhakaran, is above all, and this is to me the most important word in the conference, a totalitarian movement. We are speaking about a totalitarian movement fighting in a country which is democratic, and Mr. Prabhakaran has transformed his group into a killing machine. 

LTTE has brutally eliminated all other parties or Tamil groups willing to represent the Tamils. It has assassinated all those who were willing to offer an alternative to LTTE's position. Just like Mr. Prabhakaran has physically eliminated in his own party all those who could have challenge his authority.  

The manipulation of young boys and girls into fighters who die rather than surrender and the cult of suicide-attacks for the most dedicated of the militants for the sake of a movement whose charismatic leader has been
transformed into an icon, are signs of what the essence is of the movement. An absolutely intolerant sect. No peace seems possible with Mr. Prabhakaran as we have seen from the peace process of 2002-2005 which was, as I understand, essentially, a tactical truce.  

"Conflict resolution has been tried, very frankly, I do not believe very much in conflict resolution when you have one of the parties or sometimes the two parties which are not willing to really make peace." 

."So to go back to my conclusion, I would say, nevertheless, no military solution can solve by itself the Tamil problem. 

Ultimately, for all the States concern, apart from the military dimension of the conflicts they face, the problem remains political and so, at the end of the day, the solution.

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Last Updated Date: October 24, 2007 - 10.25 GMT