Pathmanathan new LTTE chief, rebels vow to seek 'free Eelam'

I / Colombo July 22, 2009, 18:21 IST

Vowing to pursue its campaign for 'Tamil Eelam', the LTTE has named alleged arms smuggler Selvarasa Pathmathan as its new chief to succeed Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was slain along with the entire rebel leadership in Sri Lanka two months ago.

The Tamil separatist outfit, which was virtually annihilated by Sri Lankan troops in May, said it will "modify" the strategies of its "struggle" but will continue to work for a "free Tamil Eelam". Prabhakaran will "forever" remain the "leader of Tamil Nationhood," it said.

The announcement comes amid reports that differences have cropped up among the few remaining LTTE leaders who are based abroad. It was not also clear that whether the huge Tamil diaspora will back 54-year-old Pathmanathan.

 

"The LTTE Executive Committee wishes to officially let our beloved Tamil people and the international community know that Selvarasa Pathmanathan, who had been appointed as head of international relations by our national leader, will lead us into the next steps of our freedom struggle according to the vision of our esteemed leader," said an LTTE statement.

The statement, issued from an undisclosed location, said "like all liberation struggles, we will modify the form and strategies of our struggle according to times and demands.

"Yet, our ultimate goal of a free Tamil Eelam does not ever change," it said.