TULF calls for ceasefire before talks with LTTE

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, DEC. 13. The moderate Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) today called for a ceasefire before talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE).

``The government must call for a ceasefire. Otherwise, when you hit a man, he will always hit back,'' said Mr. V. Anandasangaree, member of parliament and vice-president of the TULF.

Sri Lanka on Tuesday rejected a demand by the LTTE for de- escalation of hostilities before the commencement of talks, saying it sounded ``almost like a pre-condition.'' The government said it would consider de-escalation, and lifting economic blockades on LTTE-controlled territory only as talks progressed.

Mr. Anandasangaree said it was now up to the Norwegian facilitators to break the deadlock. ``That is what they are there for. They must intervene and get both parties to agree for a ceasefire.'' Only negotiations conducted in the background of a ceasefire would yield ``good results.''

The Defence Ministry said today five LTTE cadres were killed by the security forces in different incidents in north- east Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the number of people killed in last week's bus explosion in Batticaloa rose to six, as one more person succumbed to injuries in hospital. A doctor attached to the Batticaloa General Hospital was also among those killed. His death sparked off protests in the government medical fraternity, with doctors withdrawing from the conflict zone until they were granted adequate security. They returned earlier this week after gaining assurances from the government.

Fishermen released

Fifty-six Sri Lankan fishermen in custody in Kerala have been released on the intervention of the government here, the Foreign Ministry said today.

The released fishermen are expected arrive here on December 16, after their travel papers are processed by the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai.

Sri Lanka has of late stepped up efforts to get its fishermen out of jails across four States in India. Most of them were arrested for trespassing in Indian waters.

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Section  : International
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