The Hindu : Resume talks as soon as possible, Japan urges LTTE

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003

International

International

Resume talks as soon as possible, Japan urges LTTE

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO JUNE 30. As part of its efforts to revive the stalled peace process, Japan today "urged" the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to "resume talks" with Colombo "as expeditiously as possible".

The message was conveyed by the Japanese envoy to Sri Lanka, Seiichiro Otsuka, at a meeting with the LTTE's political wing leader, S.P. Tamilchelvan, in the rebel-held Kilinochchi.

It was the first meeting between the Japanese envoy and the rebels, after the LTTE's boycott of the Tokyo donors' conference earlier this month. The Tigers stayed away from the conference despite attempts by peace envoys, Erik Solheim from Oslo, Yasushi Akashi from Tokyo and the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen.

The Japanese Embassy, which described the "cordial and constructive" meeting as a "follow-up" to the donors' conference, said Mr. Otsuka "officially conveyed the outcome of the Tokyo conference to the LTTE leadership".

The Tokyo Declaration — which the Tigers said would be binding on them — sets out specific milestones to gauge the progress of the peace process. These include adherence to human rights, implementation of last year's ceasefire agreement, signed separately by the Sri Lankan Premier, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the LTTE leader, V. Prabakaran, and other important measures.

The LTTE's continued participation in the peace process, which is already a critical factor for the Wickremesinghe administration, is also a key requirement for the release of nearly $4.5 billion aid pledged for reconstructing the war-torn and debt-ridden Sri Lanka.

Today's meeting is also just ahead of another meeting between facilitators, Norway and the LTTE, scheduled for later this week.

Future talks likely in Europe

The peace process is likely to shift to Europe, if and when revived, sources told The Hindu.

Citing the health conditions of the LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton S. Balasingham, the sources said the talks, though unlikely to resume before August, could be shifted to some "small European country". However, no final decision has been taken, the sources said, pointing out that a considerable amount of work had to be done before the resumption of talks.

Though last week's meetings by Mr. Solheim, with Mr. Balasingham, and Mr. Wickremesinghe raised hopes of revival of talks, the pace at which they resume would depend on the LTTE's response to the Government's proposals expected to be made in the next two weeks.

As the process of chalking out an interim administration — which is both acceptable to the LTTE and does not put the Mr. Wickremesinghe's cohabitation Government under threat — is likely to take time, observers do not see the talks resuming before August or September.

The issues to be addressed span a wide range of subjects — from the broad ones such as its impact on the nature of the state to the more specific details such as the taxation powers. Moreover, with the LTTE not making public the details of what it would expect from the Government, the sense of uncertainty continues.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Israel pulls out of northern Gaza

Muster global force for Iraq, Bush told

Mending E.U.-U.S. rift Berlusconi priority

Karachi blast: death sentence for three

Resume talks as soon as possible, Japan urges LTTE

'Religious degree not graduation'

A 'mini social revolution' in U.K.

"Leaders of Gujarat massacre still free"

Sri Lanka's economy back on track

Court orders production of Sharif kin

8 dead in plane crash

'Big foot' spotted?

Genocide suspect jailed

Sino-Indian comfort level at a new high