War on LTTE, not Tamils

Twelve years ago, anti-Tamil riots in Colombo triggered a war that has since claimed 35,000 lives, laid waste to large swathes of Sri Lanka and devastated the country's economy.

Now, under pressure from a sustained government offensive, Tamil separatists are apparently seeking to reignite those original flames of communal hatred.

On Saturday, a day after bombing the country's two main oil depots, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stabbed, hacked or shot 66 Sinhalese civilians to death in three eastern villages.

Among the dead were infants, and women who had reportedly been raped.

The timing, the brutal fashion in which the killings were executed, and history all suggest the attacks were designed to create terror and prod the majority Sinhalese to strike back at civilian Tamil targets, thus escalating the racial hatred that has fueled the war.

To its credit, the government moved quickly to dampen passions before they spiral out of control.

It imposed a curfew in Colombo to prevent a communal backlash and launched a media offensive to reassure the frightened population.

Police also played down the apparent reprisal killings of two Tamils in Colombo.

The official reaction was in stark contrast to 1983 when many members of the security forces turned a blind eye to or took an active part in the communal killings.

In a country where two million people, nearly 20 percent of the population, are Hindu Tamil, there can be no military solution to their grievances.

Tragically, however, it appears the hardline Tiger leadership will continue to stand in the way of the government's devolution plan because of the threat it poses to their hold on power.

The government's only option appears to be to continue its military struggle.

At the same time it must always be kept in mind that their war is against terrorism - not a particular communal group.

-- The Nation, Bangkok