Tension mounts in the Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province following the killing of five Muslims, allegedly by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Conflict analysts observed that Muslim extremism appears to be gathering momentum in the eastern parts of the island. As the LTTE is being blamed for the killings, the peace process between the government and the LTTE comes under further strain.

According to media reports, hardliners within the Muslim community are gaining support for the idea that Muslims must arm themselves against attacks from the Tigers. Some reports suggest that they have established links with Islamic militants overseas.

Associated Press cites a Sri Lankan police intelligence report that says that Islamic extremists have already set up two training bases. While serious weapons training at these bases is yet to begin, the intelligence report says that the emphasis now is on “raising the level of anger among Muslims to prepare them for a jihad.”

However, so counterproductive is the killing of Muslims to the LTTE cause that doubts have been raised as to whether the Tigers were in fact behind the killings. The LTTE is currently trying to secure an interim northeast regional administration. “Alienation of Muslims, who may constitute the largest single community in the east can be a fatal blow to its viability,” points out Jehan Perera, a Sri Lankan analyst.

Some Sri Lankans have even pointed an accusing finger at “international forces opposed to the peace process”. It was also considered possible that an extremist section among the Muslims engineered the killings.

Quotations

“A Muslim refusal to agree to an LTTE-dominated interim administration for the northeast would make it difficult for the government to deliver such an administration to the LTTE. If there is a groundswell of opposition to the interim arrangements from the Muslim community, the Muslim MPs in parliament will be unable to acquiesce in it. This would also raise the possibility of a crossover of Muslim MPs into the ranks of the opposition, if the government goes ahead with the interim administration, regardless of Muslim opposition. … The political track is currently epitomized by the deliberations in Paris regarding a response to the government’s proposed interim administration for the northeast. Tamil intellectuals from Sri Lanka and abroad are attending these deliberations. These deliberations are expected to yield a demand from the LTTE that would ensure virtually total political control over the northeast. The military track, however, operates on a parallel, and is not subordinate to political imperatives. The intimidation and coercion of the Muslims is part of the LTTE’s strategy to physically dominate the northeast,” Jehan Perera, National Peace Council.

Sources
Sri Lanka’s explosive Muslim factor, Asia Times, 18 September 2003.