The Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) declared its intent to continue its armed struggle for an independent Tamil Eelam and refused to disarm. The Indian Peace-Keeping Force found itself engaged in a bloody police action against the LTTE. Further complicating the return to peace was a burgeoning Sinhalese insurgency in the south.
In 1990, India withdrew the last of its forces from Sri Lanka , and fighting between the LTTE and the government resumed. The Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam and government forces committed serious human rights violations against one another.
In January 1995 , the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam agreed to a cease fire of hostilities as a preliminary step in a government-initiated plan for peace negotiations. After 3 months, however, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam unilaterally resumed hostilities.
The government of Sri Lanka then adopted a policy of military engagement with the Tigers, with government forces liberating Jaffna from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam control by mid-1996 and moving against the Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam positions in the northern part of the country called the Vanni . An Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam counteroffensive begun in October 1999 reversed most government gains and by May 2000 , threatened government forces in Jaffna and heavy fighting continued into 2001.
