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Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar told the Indian media yesterday that the LTTE's ceasefire was a "publicity stunt" aimed to win credit from an international audience and pointed out that it was also an opportunistic manoeuvre aimed at gaining position on the ground. "The LTTE's ceasefires have in the past been opportunistic. So is the present one. The LTTE chooses a moment most opportune to themselves to announce a ceasefire. It appears that the LTTE wishes to delay the day when it will have to get down to discussing with the Government the core issues. It is probably a manoeuvre to gain position on the ground. In any event, the LTTE has already violated its own ceasefire," Minister Kadirgamar said in New Delhi yesterday. He also said that the LTTE leader suddenly announced a ceasefire during the Christmas and Thai Pongal periods to win sympathy and credibility. "He did not mention a ceasefire at his meeting with the Norwegians or during his November 27 speech. But he did speak of retaking Jaffna. Now that he probably realises that his dream of retaking Jaffna is unrealisable and that military operations are proceeding, he suddenly decides to announce a ceasefire". "The LTTE ceasefire is a transparent ploy to impede the Security Forces in their task of clearing Jaffna peninsula of the LTTE presence". The Government has made it clear that it considers a ceasefire a consequent step that would arise when negotiations proceed to the mutual satisfaction of both sides, he said. "In fact, the Government had agreed with the advice of the Norwegian representatives that unilateral gestures of goodwill are unwelcome at this time. This the Government does not itself intend to engage in unilateral gestures." He observed that the LTTE should first have discussed the ceasefire with Norwegian representatives who would have then consulted Sri Lanka. Clarifying the role of Norway, the Minister said Norway is "not a mediator or an arbitrator". "It has no mandate to prescribe solutions to the problem. It has undertaken to bring the parties to the table so that they could directly to each other. This is the approach favoured by the Government." To a question asked whether the Army can win a conventional war against the Tigers if the peace attempts fail, Minister Kadirgamar said:"Yes. It will take some time, but it would certainly happen. If the funds raised by LTTE supporters in Western countries begin to dwindle and the LTTE also finds it increasingly difficult because of naval surveillance round our coast to land arms on the shores of Sri Lanka, it will not take too long for the Government to bring the war to a successful conclusion." The Minister said an end to the conflict depends to a large extent on the attitude of the LTTE. If it wants to keep fighting for a separate State although the international climate of opinion is strongly against that objective, then the Government will have no alternative but to continue the war until the LTTE is forced to abandon that objective, he added. If the LTTE is prepared to discuss seriously and honestly a settlement, which guarantees to the Tamil speaking people and all minorities, their just rights, then it would be possible for fruitful negotiation to be held and concluded within a reasonable span of time which could even be in the range of months rather than years. The Government reiterates its position that it is prepared to engage in talks with the LTTE forthwith on the substantial issues involved. He dismissed the suggestion that there was international pressure on Sri Lanka, saying that many friendly countries have urged us to find a political solution. They have offered their good offices to bring the parties together to find a way of ending the war, but he would not call this "international pressure". He said there is a pool of wisdom, of good sense, of understanding that will rise to the surface in the months ahead, that will help us to rise above the rancour of party politics. He expressed confidence that a consensus could be forged on the national issue. "Together we would emerge from the ordeal we have all for so long to create a new, united society in which there will be justice and fair play for all our citizens, a society in which all our people can live with respect and dignity."
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