Indian Naxalites and Tigers cozying up again

By M Rama Rao

New Delhi, 28 August (Asian Tribune): The People's War Group of Naxalites based in Andhra Pradesh is increasingly turning to the LTTE once again in what experts view as mutual interest. While the Naxalites are interested in learning from the Tigers the techniques of training child soldiers and flying unmanned aircraft, the LTTE is desperately in need of a sanctuary and support system after it suffered reverses at the hands of Sri Lankan army in the eastern province during the past two months.

This convergence of interests has resulted in a fillip to Naxal presence in southern Tamil Nadu districts like Theni, Tirunelveli, Thuthookudi and Ramanathapuram. Traditionally, Naxalites are confined to Dharmapuri, Vellore, and the northern districts of Tamil Nadu bordering Andhra Pradesh. The Periyakulum forests of Theni district has become the new home for Naxal training camps, officials on the Naxal trial said.

The southern Tamil Nadu districts are believed to have strong sympathy for the LTTE, which has led security agencies to suspect a renewed nexus between the Naxals and the LTTE. The ties between these two extremist groups date back to the time Tamil Nadu Communist Party- Marxist-Leninist was formed in 1984-85. Its military wing, the Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA), had close ties with the LTTE and indulged in several bomb blasts and looting of weapons. By mid 1990s however the police managed to eliminate some of its senior leaders and the resultant leadership crippled them. More over the TNLA was proscribed under POTA on July 2, 2002 .

Experts here believe a new context for the revival of the old linkages might have been provided by some recent developments. Firstly, the technical capability of the LTTE could be a compelling factor behind the Naxals choosing to align with them to intensify their armed struggle against the state.

In particular, the recent measure by the government to use aerial surveillance in the forest regions of Chhattisgarh could have prompted the Naxals to seek training from the LTTE which to date is the only terrorist outfit in the world that has such capability. The Tigers are known to have unmanned aircraft, small planes and helicopters at Wanni hideout besides a functional airstrip. The Tigers have also conducted a spectacular air attack on an air base near Colombo airport recently.

Although the Government of India has recalled the two unmanned aerial vehicles deployed in Chhattisgarh, the very fact that the government is deploying the aerial vehicles delivered a strong warning to the Naxals of possible aerial attacks on their camps in the future.

Experts believe that the second strong motivating factor for the Naxals to cozy up to the LTTE could be their increasing use of child soldiers. There is evidence to show that Naxalites particularly in Orissa and adjoining Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh areas are expanding the Bal Militia Wing.

Recently, some 10-12 children were found distributing leaflets with the Naxals in Kisinda village, Sambalpur, Orissa.

Given that the LTTE is notorious for its extensive use of child soldiers as part of their strategy, it is possible that the Naxals would seek their training in the mobilization, recruitment and use child soldiers in their struggle against the state.

The LTTE, for its part, has equally strong reasons for befriending the Naxals in India. It has suffered serious reverses in Sri Lanka over the past few months culminating in its eviction form the east. This has caused them great problems not only because of the loss of resources and territory but also because of greater concentration of the Sri Lankan Army in the north.

Hence, the likelihood of the LTTE infiltrating into India to escape from the crackdown of the Sri Lankan security forces is high. In addition, they would also be looking to set up new training camps for their cadre.

For meeting these objectives, a Naxal presence in Tamil Nadu would help them. The security implications of this possibility are obvious, experts here said underlining the need for state governments in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to remain vigilant.

A view here is that Tamil Nadu is vulnerable to Naxal-LTTE violence. Caste politics, Dalit oppression, and continuing strands of Tamil nationalism are the soft underbelly of Tamil Nadu. Unlike Jayalalithaa's hard approach to extremism, the DMK strongman Muthavel Karunanidhi's government is said to adopt a soft approach towards the Tigers because of local political compulsions.