Tamil Tigers groom their own police

Tiger police chiefs talk about 'service', not 'work'

By Frances Harrison BBC correspondent in Jaffna

The Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels have started peace talks in Thailand aimed at resolving two decades of separatist struggle.

Now in Tamil Eelam police I will never say that I am working there. I am serving the people. It's for them

Inspector Ramanathan. Tigers' police

In the areas they control the Tamil Tigers run a parallel government, with their own police and judiciary.

The Tigers claim a homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority in the north and east of the island, part of which is already under their control.

And although it is not what one would expect from one of the world's most deadly guerrilla groups, the Tiger's own police force can even be found implementing day to day issues such as speed restrictions on roads.

The rebel speed limit is only 30 kilometres an hour in what is left of urban areas in this war zone. So there are plenty of offenders racing down the main north-south highway, who are stopped and lectured.

Pride

The police of the Tigers' would-be state of Tamil Eelam pride themselves on being incorruptible and more efficient than their counterparts in the rest of Sri Lanka.

Locals receive a wide range of police service

They are certainly well trained. During instruction police men and women can be seen in their blue uniforms with a Tiger emblem on the shoulder, saluting their instructor under a photograph of the rebel leader.

Inspector Rasiah Ramanathan explained the concept of aiding and abetting a crime to a group of new recruits.

It is a legacy of the days of war when everyone could be called upon to fight that nobody in the police force will admit to how many men and women they have.

But Inspector Ramanathan does disclose that he used to work in the Sri Lankan police force before he defected

"I worked there but I worked there for salary. Now in Tamil Eelam police I will never say that I am working there. I am serving the people. It's for them." He says.

Asylum

Inspector Ramanathan says he was given political asylum in Germany after race riots in the early 1980s but he decided to come back and help in the task of nation building.

The Tigers enjoy considerable local support

The police station at Kilinochchi, the main town under rebel control, doesn't see much serious crime and mainly deals with lost property, bicycle theft and disputes over things like the sale of pigeons.

But those who come to make a complaint are given a seat and a drink and the atmosphere is welcoming.

Faith

51 year-old Mallikaimala says she has faith in the Tiger police force to help her. Her son- in-law has married a second wife.

Perhaps he does not know the punishment for bigamy is seven years in jail and the Tamil Tiger legal code is especially strict about crimes against women.

Mallikaimala's case could end up in the district court at Puthukkurdiyiruppu. The judge is a 30 year-old woman and much of the prosecution questioning seems to be done by the police.

There are 150 qualified lawyers like this in rebel territory and most of them Tamil Tiger cadres. Another 200 are in the process of being trained.

In another case, the defendant is accused of assaulting a man whose coconuts he was trying to steal.

Law college

The head of the Tigers judiciary is Mr Pararajasingham, one of 15 lawyers who established their system, writing the text books and setting up a law college.

Graduating Tiger policemen drilled perfectly

Mr Pararajasingham says: "I think our legal system is much faster than the Sri Lankan system. We really want to upgrade it and improve it in future.

"We are really concerned about women's rights here, that's why we carry out executions if a sexual harassment or rape case is reported and a guilty verdict passed by the court. We have our own penal code and other laws according to our culture and public interest. "

There are already 10 courts in place and some of the old court buildings are being repaired, now that cement is available after an embargo on rebel areas was lifted.

The Tigers are working hard to expand their police and judiciary in the hope that these will form the basis of the new interim administration being discussed for the conflict areas.

At a passing out parade in the region the police force puts its best foot forward. They turn out impeccably, marching better than many armies.

The Tigers' police chief, Nadesan, arrives to take the salute. Between the obligatory soft drinks and snacks served at any official function in Sri Lanka, he explains the separation of the military and the police force in the rebel administration:

"As a police force, of course, our main duty is to maintain law and order and to work for our people's social development." He says.

The Tamil Tigers have all the trappings of nationhood without a nation.

The symbols of power are the latest weapon in their battle for recognition which they hope will result from the peace talks.