The ceasefire declaration by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and its immediate rejection by the government have emphasised the starkness of the situation in which the guerrilla group finds itself, 37 years after first taking up arms for the cause of a Tamil homeland and 26 years after the start of all-out war. Masters of communication, the Tigers were quick to disseminate their message to journalists all over Colombo and overseas, too. But to many it seemed like a cry of desperation from the losing side.