Co-Chairs should take serious note of LTTE truce breach - Defence Spokesman

Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: The Government expressed hope that the key international stakeholders of the Peace Process would take serious note of the LTTE's blatant ceasefire violations and would be persuasive in bringing the LTTE to the table, after their crucial meeting today.

Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said: "We hope the Co-chairs will tell the LTTE to return to negotiations. The Geneva 2 forum is still open."

He said the Government has always been open for discussion but the LTTE had been repeatedly dodging Government offers and attempts to revive talks.

"The LTTE gave a package of excuses not to attend Geneva 2."

He said it started with the transport issue of the LTTE Eastern leaders to Kilinochchi where they kept changing the demands starting from facilitation of sea transport to the issue of the capacity of the sea plane.

"They waited till the two teams went to Norway to pull out from the Oslo talks at the last moment. The LTTE has made a mockery of the whole issue." Donor Co-chairs Japan, US, EU and Norway are meeting in Brussels today to take stock of the current situation and discuss how to take the Sri Lankan peace process forward amidst the escalation in hostilities.

The Minister responding to queries, said the Co-chairs must take note of the situation where the Government has been pushed into a retaliatory position as a responsible and a sovereign state.

"They should take note of the Kebithigollewa massacre, the attempt on the Army Commander, the assassination of Lt. Gen. Parami Kulatunga, the attack on the Pearl Cruise where they tried to kill unarmed soldiers on off duty, and most recently the Mavilaru and Muttur incidents."

Peace Secretariat Chief Dr.Palitha Kohona said they anticipate the 'Co-Chairs would encourage the LTTE to come back to talks'.

Norwegian Spokesperson Eric Nurnberg said the SLMM would not be represented in today's meeting in Brussels. Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim, Special Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer and Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar will attend.

Nurnberg said the issue of civilian casualties would be major concern of the Co-Chairs, but brushed off certain reports on a 'tough statement' to the Government and the LTTE as mere speculation.