Sri Lankan Govt decision shuts door on talks

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JUNE 18. The Sri Lankan Government's decision to exclude the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) from the proposed interim council to administer the north-east has shut the door on negotiations with the separatist group, at least for now.

With this, the President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, has made it clear that there would be no bargaining with the LTTE. After consultations with the Opposition United National Party and Tamil parties, it would be presented as a fait accompli to the group.

The immediate fall-out of this could be on the Norwegian facilitation of a dialogue between the Government and the LTTE.

It is evident that the compulsions of majoritarian Sinhala politics have played an important role in the decision.

With general elections round the corner, the President's position seems to be aimed at reassuring her party's Sinhalese constituency that she had no intention of cutting a deal with the LTTE. Hardline Sinnhala organisations have been opposed to the idea of devolution, and any plans to involve the LTTE in it would only add fuel to fire.

Only a few months ago, Mrs. Kumaratunga had accused her main opponent in the presidential campaign, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, for conspiring with the LTTE when he suggested that an interim council be set up in the north-east with the LTTE in charge.

Tamil politicians are apprehensive about what this political posturing forebodes for the search for a lasting solution to the country's ethnic conflict. The Tamil United Liberation Front, which has been pressing for talks with the LTTE, reacted with dismay to the announcement. ``It is strange for the Government to adopt such a position. What will the President tell the international community which is pressing her to open talks with the LTTE? How can she appoint a facilitator for negotiations with the LTTE and then shut the door on them?'' asked Mr. V Anandasangaree, senior vice-president of the party.

Though he conceded that the LTTE would have in any case ``never agreed'' to participate in the proposed council, the Government's pre-emptive exclusion of the group was ``surprising'', Mr. Anandasangaree said. He reiterated the party's demand that the LTTE ``will have to be party to any solution in the north-east''. ``Otherwise there can be no peace in the country,'' Mr. Anandasangaree warned.

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Section  : International
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