International
LTTE yet to respond to Govt. moves
By Nirupama Subramanian
COLOMBO, JAN. 1. After declaring a one-month ceasefire and challenging the Sri Lankan Government to match it, the LTTE is being mysteriously silent on the rapid Government moves to create conditions for peace talks, including a reciprocation of the truce.
Norway, which was formally asked by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, to continue its facilitation of peace talks, has said it would not resume its role unless asked by both the sides. But there seems to be no signal to Oslo yet from the LTTE to once again take up its role as facilitator.
The LTTE is also quiet on other unilateral announcements by the Government, including the decision to lift the restrictions on the free movement of essential goods to the areas under the LTTE's control.
There has also been no response from the LTTE to the Government's decision to match the ceasefire with a month-long cessation of hostilities.
The silence has puzzled observers, especially in the light of the LTTE statements that though it was ready to come forward for a peaceful settlement, the lack of response from the previous People's Alliance (PA) Government had prevented this from happening.
The Government has changed now, and it has announced its decision to create conditions for talks by easing the life of civilians in the war zones, a demand put forth by the LTTE to the previous PA Government.
A gazette notification is expected from the Government on Wednesday regarding the lifting of restrictions on the movement of supplies to the LTTE-controlled areas, and is likely to be implemented by the middle of this month.
It is the new Government's hope that by taking these steps the peace talks, when they do take place, will be focussed on substantive political issues, and do not get bogged down in ``day-to-day'' issues like the 1994-95 negotiations.
Mr. Wickremesinghe has said that the talks could begin in March once the measures implemented this month begin to take effect, but there has been no affirmation of this by the LTTE yet.
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