The Hindu : We will encourage LTTE to take the democratic path: Chandrika

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

International

International

We will encourage LTTE to take the democratic path: Chandrika

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, FEB. 19. The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has reportedly asserted that a future government under her leadership "will not, in any way, incite or provoke the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to another war," but would "encourage" them to take the democratic path.

Addressing a public meeting in the run-up to the April 2 parliamentary polls, Ms. Kumaratunga reportedly "commended" the ruling United National Front "for at least stopping the war for two years."

The intention of the recently formed United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Ms. Kumaratunga said, was "to strengthen the LTTE politically and encourage them to enter into the democratic framework," a report in the state-run Daily News said.

The UPFA — Sri Lanka's latest political alliance between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the radical-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) — plans to contest the parliamentary polls under a common "betel leaf" symbol. The size of the electorate for the April 2 elections is 12,899,032 persons who are above 18 years of age, and includes more than four lakh first-time voters.

The President's observations — made on Wednesday at Gampaha, a key district neighbouring Colombo with 1.3 million voters and 18 Parliamentary seats — are amid doubts over the continuation of the ceasefire agreement (CFA) signed by the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the LTTE chief, V. Prabakaran, in the event of a change in government.

Allaying such uncertainties, Ms. Kumaratunga said the Tigers would be encouraged to take to democratic institutions "through Provincial Councils or any other political mechanism introduced through a political solution." The UNF, the President said "had not discussed a single word about a permanent solution to the national question" of solving the decades-long separatist conflict.

The twin issues of peace and democracy are emerging as main issues in the snap poll, with no clear indication yet of the voter mood.

The cessation of hostilities is the main rallying point of the ruling United National Party (UNP), headed by Mr. Wickremesinghe.

After winning the 2001 parliamentary polls on a promise of stopping the armed conflict and starting negotiations, Mr. Wickremesinghe's administration de-proscribed the LTTE, accepted it as sole negotiators and held six rounds of talks before the Tigers unilaterally pulled out of the talks last April. The talks are now formally on hold.

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

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

We will encourage LTTE to take the democratic path: Chandrika

Russia cuts off gas supplies to Belarus

Quake triggered wagon movement?

Enron official surrenders

Slump in Bush ratings

A new axis takes shape in Europe

Dean bows out of race

Graft trials of partymen erode Chirac's popularity

Musharraf happy over peace moves

India has not addressed `serious problems': U.S. panel

China, Japan welcome India-Pakistan accord