Ceasefire extended to elude a proscription in Britain?
[23 Feb 2001]

Many in Sri Lanka are questioning the LTTE's motives behind the extension of their unilateral ceasefire by a further month. Is it because the British government has delayed the announcement of the list of banned organizations under the recently enacted anti-terrorism act? The Sri Lankan government to date has refused to acknowledge the ceasefire.

The LTTE's unilateral ceasefire was always seen as a surreptitious move to appease the Britons and thus exclude itself from the proscribed list of terror groups. The ceasefire was first declared on December 24 and extended by a month in January until February 24.

However, the Tigers in a statement from their London office said they were extending their truce as a "gesture of goodwill" to promote Norway's peace moves to bring both sides to the negotiating table.

The government has also accused the Tigers of violating their own truce on 101  occasions, repeatedly attacking civilian areas with artillery and mortar fire.

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar had warned earlier that the reason for LTTE's co-operation with the Norwegian peace initiative was the threat of being banned in Britain.

LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham's recent admission in London's Tamil Guardian newspaper that a British ban of the LTTE would disrupt the peace process, confirms LTTE's stance to do whatever possible to prevent Britain from proscribing it.

Meanwhile according to an AFP report the LTTE in a statement had said the Sri Lankan Government's refusal to agree to a ceasefire and "refusal to endorse the Norwegian project for de-escalation" demonstrated its commitment to a military option of war.

The Sri Lankan government maintains the LTTE's betrayal during previous attempts to bring the militants to the negotiating table had forced it to adhere strictly to a policy of unconditional talks.

The government's stance in the 'cease-fire' has come in for commendation by some local political parties who’ve said a ban by the British government would compel the Tigers to begin negotiations, just to prove that they had been genuine in their offer for a cessation of hostilities.

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