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Ceasefire akin to giving ‘oxygen’ to LTTE: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Hours after the LTTE announced its decision to observe a unilateral ceasefire from July 26 to August 4, to coincide with the SAARC Summit scheduled here on August 2 and 3, Sri Lanka’s government rejected the offer, saying a ceasefire at this juncture amounted to supply of “oxygen” to the LTTE.

The government’s chief negotiator, Nimal Siripal Silva, told Parliament the government was not ready for a ceasefire as it would provide “oxygen” to the LTTE, which has been cornered by the military.

On Tuesday, the LTTE Political Wing, in a statement, announced that “as a sign of this goodwill” towards SAARC, the LTTE would observe a unilateral ceasefire that is devoid of military actions during the period of the SAARC conference from July 26 to August 4, and extend its cooperation for the success of the conference.

“At the same time, if the occupying Sinhala forces, disrespecting our goodwill gesture of our people and our nation, carry out any offensives, our movement will be forced to take defensive actions,” said the statement. Though it is for the first time the LTTE expressed its inclination for a ceasefire in writing since Sri Lanka abrogated the 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), for several weeks now, the LTTE has been talking of its desire for cessation of hostilities.

On July 12, the LTTE Political Wing’s leader, in an interview, said the LTTE is ready for a ceasefire, and to hold talks. The following day, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his government is ready for talks only if the LTTE gives up arms.

Political and diplomatic observers here said Tuesday’s announcement was another attempt to embarrass the Rajapaksa government and score brownie points vis-À-vis the international community. According to diplomatic sources, the Norwegian Ambassador called on the Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohana, conveying the LTTE’s ceasefire message.

Mr. Kohana reportedly told the envoy that in the past, the LTTE used ceasefires and negotiations as a tactic when it was militarily weak.

The government would consider the offer only if the LTTE is ready to “demobilise,” he added. The government’s intent to carry on the ongoing military operations in the north was also evident when the Air Force, on Tuesday, claimed to have bombed a facility hosting LTTE suicide bombers.

Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said that 22 suicide bombers (Black Tigers) were killed in the air-raid carried out at the Uddayarkattukulam LTTE camp in Mullathivu district. Citing intelligence sources, he said the group had been engaged in a ‘rehearsal’ to carry out a major suicide operation.

Separately, the Navy has claimed an LTTE boat was destroyed and two boats were damaged when the Navy’s Fast Attack Craft (FACs) engaged a cluster of LTTE boats in the seas off Pulmoddai. A spokesperson said five speedboats were heading towards Pulmoddai from Nayaru.

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