Civilians, LTTE cadres suffer while hierarchy makes merry

By Shanika Sriyananda in Madhu

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Civilians and LTTE cadres in Kilinochchi are dissatisfied with the LTTE hierarchy as the leaders still enjoy the perks and lead luxury lives while the innocent people are being ill-treated and used as human shields to fight against the advancing troops in the Wanni, informed sources said.

Sources close to the LTTE said that people live in fear and want to flee to the government controlled areas as the LTTE still conscripts minors and elders for the battle. The normal cadres, especially are frustrated with the LTTE's so-called leaders as they still travel in "fortified" luxury vehicles and even their wives use similar vehicles.

They said that while the children of innocent civilians were deployed to die in the battle, the children of these leaders and the political wing of the LTTE were sent to good schools in Kilinochchi and are kept in well-protected daycare centres as their fathers are leading the battles and mothers were engaged in some other work for the Tigers. The LTTE had set up special daycare centres to look after them.

"These children are transported in special vehicles to the daycare centres and food is given to them free. Highly qualified teachers give them tuition in the afternoon and all the facilities are provided to them", they said.

The Tigers are now facing a transformation since the senior LTTE cadres give priority to their family lives rather than waging a war. According to sources, the young cadres who joined the outfit decades ago are now married and having children.

Though they want to recruit underage children to maintain their man-power they do not want their children to fight in the battle, they said.

The activities of the LTTE hierarchy has led to frustration among the ordinary LTTE cadres whose children too are being abducted by the outfit.