LTTE's conditions for talks

By V.S.Sambandan

COLOMBO, MARCH 24. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has proposed cessation of hostilities, confinement of troops to barracks and an effective ceasefire with the help of an international monitoring committee as preconditions for talks, according to Tamil media reports.

These conditions were made known by the LTTE's chief negotiator and adviser, Mr. Anton Balasingham, in an interview to the Tamil Guardian, an English fortnightly published from London, excerpts of which were published in an internet news site, Tamilnet.

The latest position outlined by the Tigers comes at a time when a fresh Norwegian bid is under way to initiate direct talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. The Tigers had earlier demanded the pullout of troops as a precondition for commencement of talks.

The Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, had recently rejected the demand for a pullout of troops as a precondition for talks, but said that de-escalation would take place as talks progressed, and withdrawal of troops would follow after reaching a comprehensive agreement as the ultimate objective.

In his interview to the newspaper, Mr. Balasingham said the Tigers were ``not against'' the presence of Government troops, but were ``opposed to the occupation of troops in civilian habitations''. Moreover, ``if the troops are confined to the barracks, we will also keep our forces in the camps,'' he was quoted as saying.

Mr. Balasingham, who is presently in a European capital recuperating from medical treatment, also wanted the removal of ``repressive conditions'' imposed by successive Governments as a ``collective punishment'' on the people of the north and east as a necessary condition ``to create a conducive climate for peace and mutual trust''.

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Section  : International
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