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The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam delegates attending peace talks in Geneva on April 19th are prepared to fly directly out from Sri Lanka in their own aircraft from Iranaimadhu in the Kilinochchi district to Maldivian Islands capital Male thereby circumventing Katunayake it is learnt.

The proposed move however is predicated on two factors. Firstly the refusal of President Mahinda Rajapakse to provide clear cut guarantees of security to and from the Katunayake International Airport to the LTTE delegation led by its political Commissar Suppiah Paramu Thamilselvan. Secondly the inability of facilitator Norway in arranging for air transport to the LTTE from Iranaimadhu to Male.

Informed sources said that the extreme step of LTTE resorting to its own aircraft in flying out would be deemed necessary only if Rajapakse fails to provide security guarantees or Oslo the air transport.

The LTTE has set up its own air wing and has over 20 small, microlite and sea planes it is understood. Though the LTTE keeps details of its air wing - pioneered by Sornalingam alias “Col” Shankar - a closely guarded secret it is understood that the tigers possess an air capacity far in excess of what is revealed in media reports based on Sri Lankan intelligence sources.

The LTTE political adviser and chief negotiator Anton Balasingham has mooted this proposal to Norwegian Overseas development minister Erik Solheim at a meeting held in London on April 29th. Balasingham however has stated clearly that special air transport arrangements for the LTTE will be required only if President Rajapakse is unable or unwilling to provide adequate guarantees of security for air travel via Katunayake to Switzerland.

If Colombo does not satisfy the LTTE with concrete guarantees the tigers will fly out from Iranaimadhu by sea plane to Male and from there by passenger airlines to Geneva. The LTTE would like Norway to make arrangements for this. If Oslo is unable to do so the LTTE is prepared to fly out in its own planes.

The tigers conducted a “trial run” of the Iranaimadhu - Male sea plane air passage in 2002 when Anton Balasingham and spouse Adele Balasingham accompanied by Norwegian diplomats flew in and out of Kilinochchi from and to the Maldives. The Balasinghams arrived on March 25th and departed on April 24th in 2002.

The sea plane was specially chartered by Norway for this from a Maldives based air taxi service and flown by Canadian nationals.

This was at a time when the ceasefire had just come into force and Balasingham considered travelling through Katunayake to be a security risk. An earlier request to be granted passage through India was rejected by New Delhi.

Erik Solheim will convey the LTTE request to Rajapakse when he and the new special peace envoy Jon Hanssen - Bauer will meet the President on April 6th. The duo will be in New Delhi on April 7th to brief India on developments. They will meet Balasingham on April 8th in London and convey Rajapakse’s response to the LTTE ideologue.

Given the political importance of the Geneva talks Rajapakse is expected to provide the guarantees required by the tigers.

Though the ceasefire is in existence for more than four years the LTTE regards the security situation to be quite fragile at present. The LTTE also wants to avoid any possible danger or embarassment to its delegates led by SP Thamilselvan when they pass through Katunayake.

The LTTE has already expressed protest to Norway over the treatment meted out to its delegates when they returned from Switzerland after the previous round on February 22 - 23rd. The LTTE was not given the customary VIP treatment of earlier times and compelled to undergo procedures and checks like ordinary passengers.

Officials at Katunayake made a hue and cry about some catalogues of arms in LTTE possession as if a grave security breach had occurred. The tigers were held up at Katunayake for over four hours till approval : was obtained from higher authorities to clear the catalogue contraband.

The LTTE luggage was searched intensively and duties were imposed for items like torches and digital cameras.

Sections of the Sri Lankanmmedia highlighted the airport incident and extremist politicians charged that the LTTE was smuggling in dangerous weapons and equipment through Katunayake.

The LTTE hierarchy was miffed over this controversy because it regarded the issue as a mountain being made out of a molehill. The LTTE transports its sophisticated weaponery through its sea division and does not need to smuggle in stuff through Katunayake.

A big fss was also made when the LTTE wanted its woman wing leader Thamilini to be air transported to Kilinochchi as she had fallen sick. Earlier she was slated to travel back by road.

The Government has also in recent times refused to provide air transport for tiger leaders from the East to travel to the North.

Given this backdrop the LTTE wants easy passage and smooth arrangements on a VIP basis to be extended to its delegates as was done during the Kumaratunga - Wickremasinghe period.

Another major concern is security. LTTE intelligence suspects a conspiracy to target its delegates in Colombo.It is expected that Tamil “paramilitaries” aided and abetted by influential security officials will carry out the task. The LTTE is deeply suspicious about Defence secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, Army chief Sarath Fonseka and Defence adviser Kotakadeniya.The LTE would like Mahinda to provide explicit guarantees in this respect.

According to informed sources the LTTE is concerned about travelling through Katunayake because it fears some “covert action” by hawks in the Colombo establishment to sabotage Geneva talks. Since the Government has agred to disband paramilitaries but cannot do so these elements by targeting the LTTE may hope to prevent the second round it is felt.

The LTTE is also concerned that the JVP and JHU may organize a protest demonstration at Katunayake to embarass the tigers. Rajapakse has been requested to provide assurances that such activity will not be permitted.

The LTTE is also worried about how its delegates will be treated on their return in a situation where the Geneva talks collapse. Given the Governments failure on ground to disarm the paramilitares as pledged earlier and the hostilities being whipped up the tigers fear a possible breakdown of talks in Geneva.

What then is the position of the returning delegates? is the doubt. It may be recalled that when talks collapsed in 1990 LTTE political chief Narendran alias Yogi was stranded in Colombo. Yet he was escorted safely back to the North though war had erupted.

President Premadasa and ministerial envoy ACS Hameed were criticised strongly by Sinhala hardliners for this. The hawks felt Yogi should have been incarcerated.

The LTTE is worried about similiar demands being made about arresting its delegation if the Geneva talks do break down. The tigers want Rajapakse to assure safe passage regardless of the position at the Geneva talks.

Balasingham last week told the The Sunday Leader in a careful choice of words that “the LTTE leadership is concerned about the security of their negotiating team at Colombo airport and we have sought assurance of guarantees for the safety and safe passage through the terminal.”

It is understood that the tiger ideologue was refering to the multiple concerns of the LTTE regarding air travel when he said this.

President Rajapakse who was described as a “pragmatist” by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakharan is expected to agree to the LTTE request and provide required guarantees in word and deed. If he fails to do so the political consequences would be massive.

In the first place the Geneva talks may be jeopardiseed. Furthermore the LTTE avoiding Katunayake and travelling from Iranaimadhu to Male in Oslo arranged aircraft or in their own would be a tremendous propaganda coup for the LTTE.

If the LTTE does fly out in its own air craft it would be a great “victory” for the tigers politically and militarily. Moreover the LTTE may even impress the Tamils, shock the world and infuriate the Sinhala hawks by flying out not from Iranaimadhu tank but from one of the three airfields the tigers have constructed in the North - East.

Given this reality, whatever the hotheads may say, it is very likely that Mahinda will accommodate the LTTE request in a way that would not allow the tigers any excuse to demand and obtain special air transport between Kilinochchi and Maldives.