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Disarming only at final solution - LTTE

The LTTE says that the soldiers whom relatives in the South believe are missing in action are probably dead.

The Tigers Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham said yesterday in Thailand that the LTTE estimates it killed around 25,000 soldiers in the last 15 years. He said that during many battles "hundreds of soldiers died. When we tried to return the bodies to the Army through the ICRC, they refused to accept them as this would create problems in the South and these soldiers were listed as missing".

He said that the people of the South have been made to believe that thousands of these soldiers were being held captive by the LTTE.

"So I am sorry to say these soldiers are not missing in action, but unfortunately they died on the battlefield," he added. Balasingham said that the Tigers lost some 17,500 cadres during this period.

At the closing press conference of the fourth round of talks Balasingham also reiterated that his organisation couldn't disarm until a final solution to the problem is reached.

"Some people are under the impression that we are like the IRA or some other organisation which has a few weapons here and there. That is wrong. The LTTE has a formidable military machine, a conventional army that has fought this war for 20 years."

"The strength of this army is the protection of our people, the bargaining power of our people and we will not disarm until the aspirations of our people are met."

"Disarming would be suicidal," he said.

Balasingham also debunked theories put forward by some Sri Lankan and foreign columnists that the LTTE was using the talks as a tactic to eventually seek a separate state.

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