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Colombo's terms for peace talks

B. Muralidhar Reddy

LTTE must come out with assurances, says Sri Lankan Minister

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Monday told Norwegian Special Envoy Hansson Bauer that it was ready to resume peace talks but would like to wait for clarity from the LTTE on whether and how it would like to return to the talks.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, Health Minister and leader of the delegation for peace talks, told The Hindu after a meeting with Mr. Bauer that the Government was concerned over the possibility of the Tigers using the talks to strengthen themselves militarily. Hence, it wanted guarantees from LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran in this context.

Mr. Bauer is here to bring the Government and the LTTE to the dialogue table in the light of the September 12 Brussels declaration of the Co-Chairs of Sri Lanka. He will meet LTTE representatives and leaders of various parties. Mr. de Silva said the ball was in the LTTE's court. "Mr. Bauer would visit Kilinochchi on Tuesday and get back to us with the response of the LTTE. Depending on the communication from Kilinochchi, we would decide on the next course of action."

A day after the Co-Chairs statement, the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime said, "The Government hopes that the Co-Chairs and the facilitator will do the utmost to ensure that the past practices of the LTTE are not repeated in this instance."

It had also said the Government would urge the international community to effect a mechanism to prevent illegal procurement and induction of weapons by the LTTE.

Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government was aware of the LTTE's "insincerity" and therefore needed to be sure of their commitment before the talks began.

Among the specific issues raised are a time frame from the LTTE to resume and conclude the talks and an assurance to the international community and Donor Co-chairs that it will not use sea routes to smuggle in military hardware, according to the Government information web site.

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