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Sri Lanka : Govt’s cautious response to LTTE’s unilateral ceasefire |
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The Kumaratunga Government in Sri Lanka has not shown any enthusiasm to the separatist group LTTE’s declaration of unilateral ceasefire and its demand to use the opportunity to open peace talks. Whereas the LTTE is demanding what it calls deescalation on the warfront, the government continues to insist that the talks can go on even without deescatlation and the pullout of government troops would depend on the progress in the talks. The LTTE has however rejected the government plea and said that its stipulation that talks can take place even while the war is on, was but an attempt to scuttle the peace talks. It appealed to international community to use its good offices to abandon its hardline militaristic position and seek a path of peace and fairplay.
The LTTE declared a month-long ceasefire from December 24. In a statement on December 21, it said it was a “genuine expression of goodwill” during the festive season, indicating our sincere desire for peace and a negotiative settlement. The statement said, the LTTE Chief V. Prabhakaran has issued orders to all the fighting units and cadres to cease hostile military actions against Lankan forces from December 24 to January 24. The LTTE hoped the government would reciprocate the gesture and said it was prepared to extend the period of peace to create cordial conditions for a stable ceasefire and direct negotiations if the government responded positively by increasing armed hostilities. There is still no firm response of the government to the LTTE’s unilateral ceasefire, but earlier in the week, President Kumaratunga said the doors are open for negotiations with the LTTE but the government will not accept any conditions. She said in Paris ahead of the meeting of donor countries that her government would be prepared for a deescalation but only after the talks with LTTE have commenced.
The Media Minister Anura Priya Darshana Yapa said, the government was not posed to any genuine dialogue but, being aware of the compelling reasons behind LTTE’s declaration of ceasefire, the government would proceed with constant and continued enquiry. The Opposition UNP has however, asked the government to consider the truce seriously. Its party spokesman said, the government has an obligation to respond positively. The Tamil parties like TULF and TELO have described the LTTE’s declaration as a courageous move in which the government have to give a positive response.
It may be recalled that in early November, the Norwegian peace envoy Erick Solheim traveled to the Wanni jungles in the Northeast for a meeting with the LTTE Chief V. Prabhakaran and he later said that he was prepared for holding unconditional talks. Mr. Solheim later briefed President Kumaratunga who however told parliament subsequently the LTTE offer was not unconditional and her government was in touch with Norway to find out exactly what were the preconditions. In his address on the occasion of Hero’s Day which the LTTE celebrates every year to mark the birthday of Prabhakaran, the LTTE chief once again reiterated his swillingless for holding a dialogue with the government but insisted on a process of deescalation to create a conducive atmosphere for such a dialogue. He however, insisted that the demand should not be construed as a precondition.
Hours after the declaration of unilateral ceasefire, the military launched on December 22 a two-pronged attack over land and the Jaffna lagoon to take control of more areas in the peninsula. The operation left at least 76 dead on both sides.
Political observers say the LTTE’s surprise announcement may leave the government with little choice but to reciprocate. Although the government has said deescatlation of conflict and the lifting of economic blockade on the LTTE held areas would be considered only after peace talks began, the LTTE’s latest move will bring considerable pressure on the government from moderate Tamil groups and abroad. To the extend that it is easier for the government to reciprocate by taking steps to normalize life in the LTTE controlled areas and begun deescalation, rather than be seen as initiating these steps, the LTTE’s latest move may present a way out of the deadlock that the Norwegian backed peace process seemed to have hit last week when it said the talks could not take place while the shooting continued and the initiative to create a cordial atmosphere had to come from the government - a condition the government has already rejected.
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