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The press conference was held to present the stance of the Sri Lankan Government in the light of the recent speech made by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, on 27th November. The sources revealed that the government stand has been fully approved by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who is now in London. " It is the Sri Lanka Government's view that the critical political issues that affect the future of Sri Lanka should not be evaded any longer. The Government states the political talks With the LTTE, aimed at resolving the conflict can and should begin forthwith. This requires that the LTTE agree that the core issues should comprise the agenda of negotiations". Minister Kadirgamar further stated: " The core issues, that the Government has consistently maintained, are the stoppage of war, the stoppage of all terrorist killings, the resolution of the Tamil peoples' problems through negotiated political settlement and a speedy resolution of the problems of those displaced by war". He further brought to light the fact that in November 9th speech; President Kumaratunga reiterated the Government's commitment to a negotiated settlement of Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. Also he highlighted the fact that in her speech she made it categorically clear that the doors for talks with LTTE remained open. The LTTE leader's desire for 'a de-escalation of war leading to cessation of armed hostilities' is viewed as a precondition for talks by many political analysts. In the government's view the de-escalation of war could be considered only as the talks progress towards a definitive stage in resolving the conflict". "However a careful reading of the LTTE leader's speech gives the impression that his readiness for peace talks is not without ambiguity. He insists on the creation of a cordial atmosphere and conditions of normalcy conducive for peace negotiations". said Kadirgamar. LTTE leader Prabhakaran's double standards in dealing with the Sri Lankan government is obvious when he says "Jaffna does not belong to the Sinhala nation. Jaffna belongs to the people of Jaffna. Sovereignty is not a divine right of a State. Sovereignty is derived from the people...Which ever force opposes us, our liberation movement is determined to liberate Jaffna". However the LTTE leader does not spell out what he means by ' conditions of normalcy'. The Government is fully aware that the LTTE has held and expressed the view that " conditions of normalcy" include the withdrawal of armed forces from Jaffna and the Northern province, as a precondition to the commencement of any talks. He further stated that the Sri Lankan Government is aware that there are difficulties faced by the civilian population in conflict areas, in the North and East. This is due to the inescapable fact that there is an ongoing war for which the LTTE bears a heavy responsibility. "The Government wishes to remind the LTTE that it has taken every possible step to improve the conditions of civilian life in the areas under Government control. It has to be emphasised that it is the LTTE that has constantly disrupted the supply of goods and services to the people in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The Government is of the view that issues concerning the normalisation of civilian life could also be discussed in the course of the proposed talks". "The LTTE leader has claimed sovereignty over Jaffna while issuing a challenge to the State that his movement will regain Jaffna. The Government's position as has been clearly reiterated to all concerned is that Sri Lanka is a multi ethnic, multi religious, pluralistic State in which here is no space for mono ethnic political entities. The Government and its armed forces shall continue to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Sri Lanka. Minister further insisted the fact that the Government will guarantee the rights of all the citizens, including Tamils.
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"We
will talk peace while fighting the war. There are several instances of
this practice in the world. The LTTE are not babies. They are well
equipped and very efficient and mature war machine", said the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lakshman Kadirgamar, at a press conference
held at the Foreign Ministry last evening.
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