The Hindu : `Peace talks only after September'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2002

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International

`Peace talks only after September'

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO July 29. The much-expected talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been postponed to take place after the arrival of the rebels' chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, in northern Sri Lanka, according to a newspaper.

In a front-page report, the Colombo-based Tamil daily, Sudar Oli, quoting "informed sources,'' said today that the talks would be held only after the arrival of Mr. Balasingham in early September. The report comes a few days after the Tigers said that the dates and the agenda for the talks could be considered after the ceasefire agreement ran its full term.

On Mr. Balasingham's proposed mode of travel to Sri Lanka, the report said that it would "reflect the changing international perceptions on the LTTE'' but did not elaborate. Earlier this year, Mr. Balasingham flew into the LTTE-held area aboard a seaplane from Male and arrived at the Iranamadu tank. Special immigration facilities were made for his entry into the island, which was not through any designated port. In September also, Mr. Balasingham, who lives in London, will enter ``neither through Katunayake (the island's only international airport) nor through any of the seaports,'' the report said.

The report of his visit to the Vanni gains significance because as the LTTE's chief negotiator, he would have to hold consultations with its leader, V. Prabakaran, before setting the agenda and finalising the dates for the talks.

An earlier request that Mr. Balasingham, who suffers from a kidney ailment, be provided transit or accommodation facilities either in Chennai or any South Indian city for medical treatment, and for the purpose of holding frequent consultations with Mr. Prabakaran, was cold-shouldered by New Delhi.

Today's report comes at a time when there are conflicting reactions to the delay in the commencement of the peace talks, to be held in Thailand. Colombo has taken the position that more importance must be given to the structure and preparation for the talks than the dates. The Opposition People's Alliance has criticised the delay and said that core issues, aimed at ending the conflict, should be included in the talks.

Some political observers are pessimistic of the peace process and see the delay as being aimed at buying time before the next round of fighting. Others feel that a delay will have a positive fallout as long as there is no resumption of war. The posture to be adopted by the Tigers, the Government and the major political parties in the months ahead will be critical in transforming the present "negative peace,'' symbolised by an absence of war, to a "permanent and lasting'' one.

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