LTTE may extend truce

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, APRIL 22. The LTTE has reiterated to Oslo that it will not participate in peace talks unless the Government fulfils the ``pre-requisites'' placed before it, but has indicated it may extend its unilateral ceasefire to provide space for the peace process.

Sri Lankan newspapers said over the weekend that this was conveyed to the Norwegian special envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, during his meeting with the LTTE representative, Mr. Anton Balasingham, on April 19 in London.

Putting a dampener on the optimism generated after the statement earlier this month by the Foreign Minister, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, that the Government would announce the date and venue for talks by the end of April, the state-run Sunday Observer said today that the LTTE demands had ``slowed down'' the peace process.

The LTTE has four main ``requests'': the Government must reciprocate its ceasefire, remove restrictions on items such as fuel, fertilizers and cement being taken into LTTE-held areas, de-proscribe the group, and describe the agreement being finalised by the two sides on confidence-building measures before the talks as a ``memorandum of understanding'', and not as an ``agreement on humanitarian measures''.

The LTTE has also said Norway's role must not end with facilitating talks between the two sides, and must continue in the process thereafter. Mr. Solheim is expected in Sri Lanka next week for discussions with the Government.

The LTTE has reportedly dismissed the lifting of restrictions by the Government on 24 items as insufficient. The demand for lifting the ban was not ``new'', but had been placed before the Norwegians at the start of the process, the reports quoted Mr. Balasingham as telling Mr. Solheim. Sri Lanka's nomenclature for a set of confidence building measures to be undertaken by both sides prior to talks as an ``agreement on humanitarian measures'' has also apparently riled the LTTE, which, fearing a dilution, wants to call it by the more formal ``memorandum of understanding''.

But in a sign that the peace process is still on track, Mr. Balasingham has indicated to Norway that the LTTE might extend the ceasefire by another month, re-emphasising its other demand that talks cannot take place unless the hostilities cease completely.

`Scribes can visit LTTE-held areas'

COLOMBO, APRIL 22. The Government will not restrict journalists from entering areas held by Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka but won't account for any injury or loss of life, a senior government official said today.

``Journalists can go, we have not debarred them, but they must be fully aware of and accept the risk to their lives,'' Mr. Ariya Rubasinghe, Director of Government Information, said.

The Government could not provide protection for journalists undertaking such assignments or secure consent to enter territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. ``They must settle it themselves with the terrorists because we have no say over matters on their side,'' he said.

At present, journalists must obtain written permission from the Defence Ministry to visit areas under the LTTE. Permission is seldom granted except for military-conducted tours. - AP

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