The United States while accusing the LTTE of targeting civilians has also accused the government of using anti-LTTE paramilitaries to terrorize those suspected of having ties with the Tamil Tigers.
The US State Department in its annual 2007 terrorism report released on Wednesday said Iran – Sri Lanka’s latest ally -- remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism with elements of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly involved in the planning and supporting of terrorist acts.
“In Sri Lanka, the LTTE and the government violated the 2002 Cease-fire Agreement on a number of occasions leaving more than 5,000 people dead and thousands
displaced since hostilities started again in 2006. The LTTE reverted to targeting civilians in bus bombings and claymore mine attacks, while the government used anti-LTTE paramilitaries to terrorize citizens suspected of having ties with the Tigers. Both the LTTE and armed groups allied to the government engaged in wide-spread human rights abuses including extra-judicial killings, abductions and extortions,” the report released by US Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice said.
The report said the government took effective control of the Eastern Province in mid last year but the LTTE continued to control much of the north and carried out attacks throughout the country while the LTTE and government forces engaged in retaliatory attacks throughout the year.
“The LTTE continued to finance itself with contributions from the Tamil Diaspora in North America, Europe and Australia and by imposing local "taxes" on businesses operating in the areas of Sri Lanka under LTTE-control and reportedly by extortion operations in government-controlled areas,”
The LTTE also used Tamil charitable organizations as fronts for its fundraising.
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