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Velupillai Prabhakaran the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) now says he wants to hold direct negotiations with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, making three key demands, which is advantageous to the organisation to continue the war. Firstly, Prabakaran wants to talk directly to the President, without emissaries or mediators, to which the President says at the inauguration of the 11th Parliament, “ prior to taking any decisions about talks with the LTTE we should take into consideration the previous practices and attitudes of the LTTE. We should give the most serious consideration as to whether they are trying to fool us too in the same way as they have fooled different governments through a period of 15 years.” President CBK emphasised that what the LTTE should discuss with the government should be clear and definite political issue. Looking at it from the point of view of the Tamils themselves the establishment of a separate state in the North and East will not bring about liberation for the Tamil, people. All our people will obtain liberation only when they begin to live in a united Sri Lanka. The Tamil people who comprise the main minority of this country live in the North and East, as well as in every other region of this country. Secondly he has demanded the full resumption of food and medical supplies to the Jaffna Peninsula. However, the President said, “ if it is the view of the LTTE that by discussions they only mean the lifting of embargoes and the supply of food and similar things which are advantageous to them then there will be no purpose served. This is because we have already taken such steps. Since the People’s Alliance was elected to power in 1994 the government has been dispatching food and essential items, which have been not only for the civilians in the war torn areas, but also for the terrorists. The government has restored all public services including health, education, transportation and telecommunication in the North East of the country. Lastly, the Tiger leader is insisting that the military cease operations in Tamil strongholds. “ However, once the government of Norway through their facilitation informs us what these conditions are, we expect to come to the final decision having discussed the matter with all concerned parties. Until then we will in no way obtain our policy of replying to terrorism through military action,” the President says. “ History offers but a few opportunities to an individual or a nation to reach up to the stars. We have missed many chances. We cannot, we must not, miss this one last moment, rich with opportunity,” the President clearly stated.
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