India indecisive in Lankan issues, says LTTE

Unfazed by the recent reverses, the Tamil Tigers on Sunday hinted an escalation in their military offensive against the Sri Lankan government even as they accused India and other countries of being "indecisive" in taking a stand on the ethnic strife in the island country.

"Only the demonstration of military strength by the Tigers can bring clarity to the situation and get them (the international community) to correctly relate their interests and assertively engage in the crisis," senior LTTE member considered the outfit's ideologue K. Balakumaran told the National Television of Tamileelam (NTT).

The warning by LTTE, which has been dealt crucial blows with the killing of its political wing chief S P Thamilselvan and intelligence leader 'Colonel' Charles, came days after the government's decision to withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement it had entered with the LTTE in February 2002.

Balakumaran said the international community, including India, has been indecisive in dealing with the Sri Lankan situation.

"The international community has been vacillating in taking decisive actions on Sri Lanka because they are unable to relate their own interests to the chaotically unfolding political and military situation in Sri Lanka."

"We expect 2008 will be the year where we can overcome the diplomatic hurdles that confront us," he was quoted as saying by the pro-LTTE website TamilNet.

He claimed that the international community cannot call LTTE "obstinate, or terrorists" as in 2003 it had proposed the Interim Self Governing Authority.

"It is  our minimal requirement for power-sharing which will satisfy us, he said. "We expect in 2008, the Tigers will bring clarity to Sri Lanka's conflict," Balakumaran said.