International
Proximity to homeland a reason for LTTE request
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
TORONTO, JAN. 7. Security considerations, convenience and proximity to homeland are seen as the reasons behind the LTTE desire to see India organise and host talks between the separatist group and Colombo. The LTTE wants New Delhi to allow its political adviser and chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, and his spouse, Adele Anne, to stay in Chennai for the talks. It also wants India to let the negotiations be held in a South Indian city such as Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram or Bangalore.
If Colombo, Oslo, which will facilitate the talks, and New Delhi agree to this arrangement the second aspect of the LTTE request would then be operative. The rationale for the request
is that a high-powered LTTE delegation comprising its military commanders as well as political leaders would be required to participate in these talks. They also need to report back to the Tigers high command for further consultations and additional input during talks.
It would be practically difficult and security-wise risky for the LTTE team to move to and from Sri Lanka to a European destination for talks. It may also be necessary to vary the delegational composition at times for specific purposes. Also the abiding presence and advice of Mr. Balasingham is also required for the talks.
It is learnt that Mr. Balasingham while explaining this position clearly to the Norwegians last week emphasised that his organisation and the Tamil people were heartened by the positive response in New Delhi to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe's Indian visit in December. India had promised all assistance and support to the Oslo-facilitated peace process and so it was possible that New Delhi would agree to this special arrangement as a cordial and crucial gesture of goodwill.
Mr. Wickremesinghe's well-established rapport with the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the External Minister, Jaswant Singh, the Home Minister, L.K. Advani, the Industries Minister, Murasoli Maran, the Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, and the AIADMK leader, Jayalalithaa, is expected to help immensely in getting the Indian consent to this proposed arrangement, it was pointed out.
Though the LTTE does not welcome any country that has banned it, including India, to be a direct third party intermediary on the grounds of being perceived as partial it is amenable to Indian observers if India hosts the talks. The LTTE remains banned in India from May 1992 onwards. The Tigers may try and pursue ways of getting the Indian proscription reviewed if and when direct talks occur.
Tamil circles also drew attention to the fact that given the abundance of goodwill among the Sinhala majority community as well as the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka towards India, having an Indian city as the venue should be very welcome in the island.
The LTTE also outlined its stance on measures undertaken by new Government in Colombo towards resolving the conflict. While welcoming the moves in principle, the Tigers made tentative suggestions. It was, however, pointed out that a more elaborate and comprehensive approach could be finalised only after Mr. Balasingham meets the LTTE leader, Mr. Velupillai Prabakharan, on a one-on-one basis. The signing of a MoU finalising a permanent ceasefire also depends on this.
The LTTE point of view was made known informally to Norway when a three-member delegation met Mr. Balasingham in London for a three-hour discussion on January 4. The Norwegian delegation scheduled to visit Colombo on January 10 will convey the LTTE line of thought to the Sri Lankan Government as well as Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Gopalakrishna Gandhi, it is expected.
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