abstract:The Tamil New Tigers (TNT) was a militant Tamil organization founded by Velupillai Prabhakaran on May 22, 1972. The group was composed of a few close associates of Prabhakaran, who was 17 years old when he founded the group.
BBCcorrespondentsays that aftergivingthenewarrivalsmedicalchecks, the authoritieswill try to establish whetheranyof them are peopletraffickersormembers of the TamilTigers.
And the post-11 September international mood against terrorism has also brought new pressures on the TamilTigers to end their violent struggle that has bled the country for more than 20 years.
But Western diplomats say a strong statement of concern has been sent from New York which will be closely followed by both the TamilTigers and Sri Lanka's government.