The government decision stems from LTTE proposals in April for the recognition of the Sea Tigers as a naval unit on par with the Sri Lankan Navy. The Tigers want exclusive zones in the north-east sea for naval exercises. Indian observers say that India is extremely concerned, because the Sea Tigers, even if given some sort of legitimacy, would be outside the ambit of international law. India is also worried that such a naval force would be a threat to its security and the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
The SLMM has come under severe criticism in India and Sri Lanka for proposing recognition of the Sea Tigers as a de facto naval unit. In early May, the SLMM explained that the Sea Tigers already existed and the proposal was made for the maintenance of ‘balance of forces’ and to prevent clashes at sea. The Sea Tigers, the SLMM stressed, would have neither legal rights nor legitimate tasks of safeguarding the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Sri Lanka as these obligations belong exclusively to the government forces. An Indian military team arrived in Jaffna on 27 May to examine the security situation.
The report by Satish Nambiar to the government on 9 May proposes that Army’s HSZs and LTTE’s military installations should be removed at the same time. It also says that Army’s arms and LTTE’s long-range weapons should remain in specified areas where they can be inspected by the SLMM. Protests in Jaffna have continued against HSZs. There were 83,600 people in 45 Grama Sevaka (Village Headman) divisions at Valikamam in 1990. But since the setting up of HSZs in 1995, people have not been able to resettle in 30 villages.
Two days earlier, Defence minister Tilak Marapane said that the government had decided to relocate 152 military bases in the north-east and reduce the size of HSZs to allow resettlement of internal refugees. President Chandrika, however, expressed opposition to the decision, alleging that relocation of camps without reaching agreement with the LTTE on core political issues would endanger the security of the country.