COLOMBO, Sept. 20, Reuter: India said on Sunday it would firmly implement Sri Lanka’s shaky peace plan despite mounting protests by the most powerful Tamil separatist guerrilla group.

statement said India’s Deputy Commissioner (Deputy Ambassador) Nirupam Seen told leaders Of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that India was “absolutely determined to implement the agreement”,

A Sri Lanka official said in an interview India’s statement meant New Delhi would not tolerate any ‘opposition by the Tigers to the seven week old peace accord.

“It could lead to open confrontation between the two parties”, he said.

The Accord signed in July between Indian Prime Minister Raj Gandhi and Sri Lanka’s President Junius Jayewardene ended four years of fighting between government troops and Tamil separatist guerrillas.

It has been dented by antigovernment protests by some members of the majority Sinhalese community, inter-Tamil rivalry that has left over 150 dead and Tigers-sponsored protests in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

‘The LTTE said talks with Indian officials in the northern city of Jaffna on Saturday had failed and the group would continue a nonviolent campaign against, the pact.

A statement released from, the group’s office in South India said the condition of a political leader of the Tigers, who began a fast to back their demands, had worsened,

“Thileepan’s condition from his fast has worsened and if he dies, another Tigers member will take his place and continue the protest”, the statement said,

Thileepan began a “Death Fast” last Monday at a Hindu temple in Jaffna. He says he will continue it until Colombo grants five demands including freedom for remaining Tamil prisoners and a halt to Sinhalese “Colonialisation’ of the north and east. The Tigers said Thileepan became unconscious on Saturday

and doctors feel he may lapse into a coma in the next 24 hours, New Delhi last week ordered its

8,000 troops, stationed in the north and east to implement the peace accord, to shoot militants who refuse to surrender their arms.

‘The tough action followed the massacre by the Tigers of up to 75 unarmed militants from three rival groups at Batticaloa in the eastern province eight days ago.

Hundreds of Tamils also blockaded offices in the north and east and stormed police stations in Jaffna in Tigers-sponsored protests.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 25, 1987