The Hindu : Armitage sees 'glimmer of hope'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 23, 2002

International

International

Armitage sees 'glimmer of hope'

By V.S. Sambandan

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, in Colombo on Thursday. — Photo: Sriyantha Walpola

JAFFNA/COLOMBO AUG. 22. In a "visible manifestation" of the changing role of the United States in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, today went on a whistle-stop tour of the northern Jaffna Peninsula, met key political leaders in Colombo and termed the upcoming talks as a "glimmer of hope".

The visit, the first by Mr. Armitage as Deputy Secretary of State, was full of symbolism as it comes just ahead of the proposed direct talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, scheduled to start in Thailand next month.

Mr. Armitage saw the proposed talks as a "glimmer of hope'' and said that what he saw in northern Sri Lanka was "a reminder that we should try to push as forcefully as we can for a peaceful solution".

Talking to presspersons tonight after meeting the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, he said while the U.S. had adopted a "hands-off'' policy in the past, "we believe that things are changing now". The U.S., he said, was behind the "search for peace" through direct negotiations, which "hopefully" would start next month in Thailand.

His visit was to "re-energise" bilateral relations and there were deeper ties being developed in several areas, including defence and economy. While there was "a role for the U.S. to play", it "cannot and should not take the place" of the leaders in Sri Lanka who had a direct stake.

Mr. Armitage called on Lakshman Kadirgamar, senior adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs, who emphasised that an interim administration for the LTTE "must be deeply rooted in the Constitution".

Memories of Vietnam

Mr. Armitage, who flew to Jaffna on board a Sri Lankan Air Force aircraft immediately after his arrival in Colombo today, told presspersons in the peninsula that the destruction reminded him of Vietnam.

Recalling that he had served in Vietnam for six years, he said what he saw in the northern peninsula reminded him of "nothing more than the villages in Vietnam. It is a keen reminder that enough is enough. Let us resolve differences peacefully rather than through shot and shell''.

His tour included road travel through the devastated Chavakachcheri town, a stopover at Sarasalai, where demining was on with U.S. assistance, a trip to the forward defence lines at Muhamalai and a meeting with the representatives of the Tamil community at the Bishop's residence in Jaffna.

Mr. Armitage was accompanied by the Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Reforms, Milinda Moragoda, the U.S. envoy in Colombo, Ashley Wills, Michelle J. Sison, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, the Bureau of South Asian Affairs, Washington, and other American and Sri Lankan officials.

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