Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
November 2, 2007

Tamil Tiger Political Leader Killed in Air Force Raid
-----------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A1BB17:5F753BCA39991A3B68E7BCD0838598852E7CA1C1B166B639 Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam, say political leader S.P. Thamilselvan died during the
early morning air raid Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels say the leader
of their political wing has been killed in a bombing raid by the
country's air force. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New
Delhi.







S.P. Thamilselvan (File photo)The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,
known as the LTTE or Tamil Tigers, say political leader died during
the early morning air raid. The rebels say five other leaders were
also killed.

National Peace Council executive director Jehan Perera says it is
unusual for the air force to make such a direct hit on a vital target.

"The Sri Lankan air force is not known for its pinpoint accuracy of
its bombings," he said. "But it is quite possible that the government
was targeting senior level LTTE leaders and got him."

Perera says the successful attack will do little to alter the long
ethnic war.

"The fact that the government was able to kill Mr. Thamilselvan, an
LTTE leader, would be politically advantageous to take its message to
the people that its war is proceeding successfully," he said. "But in
terms of actual military impact I doubt whether this is very
significant."

But the death of such a senior leader is not likely to be taken
lightly by the Tigers.

"He was a very benign looking, smiling person who was the public face
of the LTTE," said Perera. "So it's a very big blow to them. And I
would assume the LTTE would wish to retaliate in the same mode."







Sri Lankan police Special Task Force commandos conduct an emergency
search operation in the capital Colombo, 02 Nov 2007The Tigers have a
long pattern of political assassination, and are responsible for the
deaths of dozens of Sri Lankan officials, including a president of the
country and former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Tamil rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for Sri
Lanka's Tamil minority group for more than 25 years. The conflict has
taken an estimated 70,000 lives in the past 25 years, and human rights
groups accuse both sides of committing abuses against civilians.

Since last year there have been near-daily clashes on land and at sea
resulting in the deaths of an estimated 5,000 people.


.