Prabhakaran wants talks, 'liberation' too

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, NOV. 27. The LTTE leader, Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran, today said he was prepared for ``unconditional talks'' but demanded that the Government first ``de-escalate'' the war and create a ``conducive'' atmosphere for negotiations, and pledged in the same breath to reconquer Jaffna.

The much-awaited speech did not give any indication that the LTTE leader was prepared to budge from his goal of an independent Tamil state.

As in previous `Heroes Day' speeches, this year too, Mr. Prabhakaran reiterated the LTTE's readiness for talks, but said such talks could not take place in a climate of war and Government embargoes.

``We are not imposing any pre-conditions for talks. Yet, we insist on the creation of a cordial atmosphere and conditions of normality for peace negotiations,'' the LTTE leader said, specifying that ``normality'' meant the removal of economic blockades in the Vanni.

Mr. Prabhakaran said he had conveyed his standpoint ``clearly'' to Mr. Erik Solheim, the Norwegian peace envoy, during their meeting earlier this month. He said Norway had suggested reciprocal confidence-building measures, which the LTTE was ``seriously'' considering, but placed the ball in the Government's court.

``If the Government takes the first steps, we shall reciprocate,'' Mr. Prabhakaran said. The speech, an annual ritual, was on the group's websites within hours of its broadcast over the clandestine Voice of Tigers.

Sri Lankan newspapers reported today that the Prime Minister, Mr. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, reiterated at a public function over the weekend that a ceasefire with the LTTE was ruled out. ``Military action will be stopped only after the LTTE enters the democratic process.''

However, Mr. Prabhakaran made it clear that it was war from his side as well and that the battle of Jaffna would continue. ``We will not allow our traditional lands to be occupied by alien forces. Whatever the challenges we have to face...(we are) determined to liberate Jaffna.''

Mr. Prabhakaran said any negotiated settlement had to be based on the understanding that the Tamil people were a ``national formation with a national consciousness''. Their aspiration was to live in their ``own homeland'' where they could ``rule themselves''. If the ``repression'' of Tamils continued, ``we have no alternative other than to secede''.

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