Colombo, May 02: Tamil Tiger rebels say unrest will break out among minority Tamils in Sri Lanka's north unless the government moves army camps away from civilian areas. "You are fully aware that the internally displaced families of the (northern) Jaffna peninsula are still facing difficulties in having access to their natural habitats and unable to resettle ... Because of the heavy concentration of troops," the LTTE said in a letter sent to the government.

The text of the letter was made available today, a day after rebels rejected a government proposal to relocate one army camp from one area within Jaffna city to another area in the city. The rebels said the new location was unacceptable because it was near markets, a post office and "many other places of public convergence."

The disagreement over the army camps is the latest setback for the island nation's stalled peace process that is aimed attending a 19-year civil war. Fighting had stopped when the government and rebels signed a Norway-brokered cease-fire in February 2002.

The rebels pulled out of the process last week, accusing the government of not doing enough to bring normalcy to former war zones. "We are afraid that your latest proposal... Would bring about... Public agitation," the rebels said.

Bureau Report