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LTTE vows to continue peace process

From Rodney Martinesz in Bangkok

LTTE chief negotiator Dr. Anton Balasingham yesterday commended Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for his bold steps to ensure stability in the current peace process.

Although they were determined to continue the peace process under any administration, the LTTE would prefer to deal with the Prime Minister whose initiative had kept the peace process alive.

"Therefore we would like to see stability in the Ranil administration".

Speaking to journalists aboard the Cathay Pacific flight CX 700 bound for Bangkok on the eve of the second round of peace talks, Balasingham said LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had prevailed upon him to ensure the ongoing peace process continues without being detracted by the Constitutional crisis or the recent incidents in the East.

He (the LTTE leader) has conceded that the peace process had laid the basis for the development of the North. Balasingham told reporters that Tamils did not want to go back to war and Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran was "determined" to pursue peace.

"No one is thinking about war... LTTE leader Prabhakaran feels confident that they can move towards a peaceful resolution of the Tamil question," he said.

Balasingham said confidence in the Sri Lankan government was growing since their first formal meeting at a Thai naval base six weeks ago.

He said he felt the peace process had progressed to a stage where he and his other delegates could freely travel through the government-held airport.

"There was an element of concern about our security, yet we were determined to embark on this journey to Thailand because we are seriously and sincerely committed to the peace process," he told reporters aboard the aircraft.

Accompanying Balasingham was LTTE Eastern Commander Karuna. Onboard the dawn flight was head of the Sri Lankan delegation Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris. Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Thailand S. Palihakkara met them at the airport.

Asked by journalists at what stage will he consider the war to be at an end Balasingham said: "The achievement of peace and stability should go through a process and advance stage by stage.

Once they reach a particular stage in stability and normality and of trust between communities, then I think we are at a stage where the war could be termed at an end".

Responding to another question by a journalist, Balasingham reiterated his stance that the LTTE was not for a separate state. However he said that this would largely depend on the degree of self-governance offered by the Government to the Tamils.

"It is only through substantial devolution that we will be able to prevent the aspiration for separatism", he said.

Balasingham said they were prepared to recognise and grant the Muslims' political rights and urged them to remain engaged in the talks.

"The Muslim leadership should discuss the issues with the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE," Balasingham added. "That is the main purpose of these peace process."

Meanwhile Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in a separate in-flight interview with the 'Daily News' said the President would be briefed on the outcome of the current round of talks and also the general progress of the peace process, as was also agreed in the Liam Fox Agreement.

He said the country was being presented with a golden opportunity of peace with hitherto warring parties deciding on negotiations in a sprit of trust and understanding.

He noted the presence of LTTE Eastern Commander Karuna in the delegation as an advantage since the security situation in the East would be one of the prime topics at the discussions.

The contentious issue of security zones in the North is scheduled to come up at today's opening sessions of the five day talks at the Rose Garden Hotel Resort in Nakom Pathon, 32 kilometres West of Bangkok.

Balasingham and Peiris said they will try to finalise plans aimed at attracting millions of dollars in foreign aid and crucial international political backing for the attempt to end ethnic bloodshed.

The establishment of a Joint Task Force to handle rehabilitation work will be a key item on their agenda during the talks.

"We want to go before the donor conference with a concrete plan of action," said Minister Peiris. "We will work on finalising arrangements."

Norway is organising an aid conference on November 25 in Oslo in support of Sri Lanka's peace efforts. "This is also going to be a meeting to pledge very important political support for the process," Peiris said as he arrived in Bangkok.

"Personalities like the US deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage are due at the Oslo aid conference. They are coming there to send a strong political message of support," Peiris said.

The first round of talks in September ended on a high note with the LTTE announcing they had abandoned their demand for a separate state called Eelam and instead agreed to settle for regional autonomy.

The next round scheduled for December is likely to be held in Oslo instead of Thailand because the date clashes with a royal holiday here. Minister Rauf Hakeem, the only Muslim delegate at the talks, is expected in Thailand today.

Estimates show that about half a billion dollars may be urgently needed to rebuild roads, telecommunications and railways and resettle hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the fighting in the North-East.

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