Background Jaffna University Helidrop

an uneasy truce

the signing of indo-sri-lankan accord on 29 july 1987 brought temporary truce sri lankan civil war. under terms of agreement, colombo agreed devolution of power provinces sri lankan troops withdraw barracks in north, tamil rebels disarm. also, on request of president j. r. jayewardene, india send contingent, ipkf, northern sri lanka peacekeeping force.

the ltte, had enjoyed support india till however, agreed truce reluctantly. tigers had rejected provincial council framework inadequate , prabhakaran had protested against indian military intervention. tigers resisted spread of deemed india s self-serving aim of binding sri lanka india s geo political sphere of influence, sympathy sri lanka s ruling sinhala community in india outside support-base in tamil nadu. induction of indian troops, tigers complied surrendering arms along terms of truce. however, ltte boycotted elections held in october , november 1988 along lines outlined in accord. opposition induction of indian troops flared active confrontation. indian administration had not expected opposition tigers , taken unaware. support tamil nationalism in india raised spectre indian govt. of possible situation of tamil secessionist movement in tamil nadu however, faced growing diligence erstwhile partner, india adopted strategy of aiding alternative tamil power bases, including eelam people s revolutionary liberation front, had emerged in november 1988 elections, , @ same time continue negotiations ltte.

peace means

the incident marked turning point of indo-ltte relationship occurred in october. on 4 october 1987, sri lankan navy captured ltte boat off point pedro seventeen tigers, including high-profile leaders of movement, on board. colombo govt alleged boat involved in smuggling arms across palk straits , on grounds denied immunity these captured tiger rebels. ltte denied claiming rebels movement in accordance truce, being in process of transferring documents shifting tigers headquarters madras jaffna. sinhalese government intended bring number of rebels captured, including pulendran, kumarappa , others, trial in colombo allegedly masterminding massacre of hundred , fifty civilians. tigers, @ time still in negotiation indian authorities, appealed enforcement of protection ipkf. rebels @ time in ipkf custody @ palali airbase pending transfer sinhalese authorities. although indian authorities insist had explained possible repercussions of such action on fragile truce , exerted considerable pressure on sinhalese authorities desist proceeding, ipkf withdrew allowing sri lankan forces proceed transferring captured rebels colombo. detainees however, attempted mass suicide swallowing cyanide- common ltte practice when faced imminent capture. night of 5 october saw large scale slaughter of sinhalese people had returned jaffna, including 8 troops of sri lankan army @ time being held hostages ltte. these coincided armed confrontations between tiger cadres , indian troops in , around jaffna. on 8 october, ltte carried out number of mortar attacks , ambushes on ipkf.

the deterioration of situation put indian government position of having enforce peace in jaffna force. indian government had been accused of inaction in face of failing accord. declared on 9 october ipkf launch terminal campaign against ltte.