No secret talks with LTTE - Govt

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

COLOMBO: The LTTE should lay down arms if the Government is to seriously consider entering into peace talks with the outfit, Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

“The Government has never shut the door for peace, if the LTTE really wishes to come for peace talks,” he told a media briefing in Colombo.

Minister Rambukwella said the LTTE has to meet particular requirements which the Government has been stressing, if it is genuinely interested in peace.

The Minister flatly rejected the UNP claim that the Government was holding secret talks with the LTTE. “The Government will never go for peace talks unless the LTTE lays down arms since in our experience the LTTE usually come for peace talks or offers a ceasefire only when they are cornered.”

“The LTTE has been practising this strategy for over 25 years. When the LTTE is badly defeated they canvass national and international parties to that they are ready to come to a settlement.

The LTTE cannot dupe the Government again by offering peace talks, the Minister said. It is apparent today at a time when the Security Forces are moving closer to the bunker lines of LTTE leader Prabhakaran, the LTTE is showing eagerness for talks or a ceasefire. This has been the case even in the past, the Minister added.

Since the LTTE always believes in war and have been engaging in war, the Government has to answer the LTTE in the only language it can understand, even though the Government understands the value of peace, he said.

“The UNP has changed its slogan and now they are talking about hunger. From 1948, hunger has been a topic with politicians.

They think if they talk about hunger they will get votes. But the public is aware of this and are bound to reject such narrow issues considering the sacrifice of our brave soldiers,” the Minister said.