LTTE extends ceasefire

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, FEB. 22. The LTTE today extended its unilateral ceasefire till March 24, once again urging the international community to persuade the Sri Lankan Government to reciprocate the truce. The ceasefire, initially declared last Christmas-eve, was due to end on February 24.

In a statement seen on the internet site TamilNet, the LTTE said it was ready to talk peace as soon as the Government reciprocated its ``goodwill gesture'' of extending the ceasefire. It also asked the Government to agree to the implementation of a ``memorandum of understanding'' drawn up by Norway for the ``de- escalation of war and normalisation of civilian life''.

The Government has made no comment so far on the existence of a MoU, but has maintained that it will not reciprocate the ceasefire till talks commence, and that too, only if the talks progress satisfactorily.

In response to the Government accusation that the LTTE had taken the initial decision to call a ceasefire without informing either it or Norway, the statement mentioned that Oslo's special envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, had been informed of the decision to extend the truce, with the request that he should convey this to the Government. Mr. Solheim is reported to have met the LTTE theoretician, Mr. Anton Balasingham, in London on Tuesday.

The announcement of the ceasefire extension came as the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, left on a two-day visit to New Delhi this afternoon.

The LTTE also made a ``fervent appeal'' to India, the E.U., the U.S. and the U.K. to ``use their diplomatic good offices'' to persuade Sri Lanka to ``abandon its destructive militaristic approach and adopt the rational path of peace, reconciliation and constructive dialogue''.

It said its decision to extend the ceasefire in spite of ``serious military disadvantages in a defensive war'' was made to ``provide further space and time'' for the Norwegian initiative to bring the two sides to the table. The LTTE said this demonstrated its sincere commitment to a peaceful means of resolving the conflict.

Earlier this week, a group of Buddhist monks and Catholic priests crossed military lines in northern Sri Lanka for a meeting with the LTTE. They came back with the message that the group was ready to give up its demand for a separate state in return for a ``just'' settlement for the Tamils.

The LTTE team that met the representatives of the Inter-Religion Alliance for National Unity comprising third-rung leaders of the group, but the monks and priests seemed convinced that the views expressed by these cadres represented the views of the top leadership of the group.

Mr. Balasingham had last week warned that the peace proceess would be ``jeopardised'' if the U.K. outlawed the LTTE under a new anti-terrorism law that came into effect on February 19.

Contrary to expectations, the British Government did not proscribe any of the groups that were potential targets - the LTTE is considered one - under the new law on that day, but have the authority do so at any time.

It is believed that by keeping the LTTE in suspense over the proscription, the British are exerting more pressure on the group to remain in the Norwegian process than they could have ever done by outlawing it.

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