LTTE rejects Lanka Govt's cease-fire offer

LTTE rejects Lanka Govt's cease-fire offer
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

COLOMBO, JUNE 28: The LTTE has rejected the Sri Lankan Government's offer for cease-fire to be followed by peace talks, saying the cessation of hostilities would occur only if the 30,000 troops were withdrawn from northern Jaffna peninsula, official sources here said on Wednesday.

The Tamil rebels' decision was conveyed to Norwegian peace envoy for Sri Lanka Eric Solheim by LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham in London last week, the sources told PTI on Wednesday.

Solheim, who arrived here three days ago to meet Sri Lankan leaders and officials, has conveyed LTTE's decision to continue with the fighting till Jaffna was recaptured.

The sources said the LTTE made it clear that it would consider any proposal for cease-fire only if the Government in principle agreed to withdraw its troops from the peninsula.

The ceasefire offer linked to peace talks was first mentioned by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar during an exclusive interview with PTI here early this month.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has already ruled out any withdrawal of troops and rather reinforced forces with modern weapons.

The sources said the LTTE had also showed little interest in the draft constitution for autonomy for the Tamil-dominated North-eastern province, currently being finalised by Chandrika in consultations with the Opposition United National Party (UNP), and in Government's proposal for an interim council to run the province for five years.

The Norwegian envoy is scheduled to visit New Delhi on Thursday to brief the Indian leaders and officials about the outcome of his current round of talks.

Balasingham reportedly told the Norwegian envoy that while the Government was free to refer the new constitution to the LTTE, the rebel group would insist on the Thimpu principles, first enuniciated by a number of moderate Tamil parties at the Bhutanese capital Thimpu during their first round of talks with Sri Lankan Government under the auspices of India in 1986.

The principles included recognition of Tamil community as a nation and granting of the right of self-determination.

Solheim on Wednesday concluded his three-day unscheduled visit to Colombo by meeting UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe and moderate Tamil parties. He is expected to meet Chandrika before his departure to Delhi.

He also met Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon and discussed the latest situation.

Briefing journalists on their meeting with Solheim, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leaders said they had told the Norwegian envoy that their party would not take part in the proposed interim council without the LTTE's participation. The party has been demanding that the rebel group be given primacy in the proposed council.

TULF vice-president Ananda Sangari said the party conveyed its displeasure over dilution of autonomy proposals in the name of consensus by the government and the UNP.

The envoy was also briefed about the grim situation in Jaffna peninsula where over half million civilians had been caught up in the war between the army and the rebels, Sangari said.