Violent end of Kadirgamar

The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have struck -- from the rear. They have killed by snipe shots Sri Lanka's astute, articulate and internationally well-known septuagenarian foreign minister Kadirgamar.

The lethal sniping, as contrasted with suicide bomber, that could penetrate the heavy defense-ring around him is a proof, if any were required, of the inherent vulnerability that potential political targets have to determined assassination bids.

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Kadirgamar, in spite of being a fellow Tamil, and, perhaps because of it, had courted LTTE's wrath by taking his nationalist approach of integration between the Sinhalese and the Tamils to a point where his role was being openly looked with discomfiture by the hardcore separatists. He was courageous enough to own up the successes in getting the Tigers outlawed in a good number of countries including the United States and Britain. Little wonder, he had premonitions of what was coming and he had expressed as much in public.

But it seems an LTTE left beleaguered by factional breakaways, allegedly backed by the government security forces, acted in desperation.

Strains have been developing on the peace process brokered by Norway under which a cease-fire truce was accomplished three years ago. The talks themselves have been stalled for more than two years, although the LTTE had agreed to abide by the cease-fire.

But the battle lines may have been drawn afresh now.

With President Kumaratunga declaring national emergency and taking all state powers into her hand, the government's emphasis on military solution may have got the better of its approach to a negotiated settlement. We have to wait and see. Bangladesh being a close friend of Sri Lanka will only earnestly hope for a full revival of the peace process in that potentially highly resourceful country in the near future.