Doubts over LTTE for peace talks
[24 Apr 2000]

Sri Lanka Army's withdrawal from Elephant Pass base in the face of LTTE attacks is seen as a major blow, that will slow down the peace talks, political analysts said.

"The Tigers are now eyeing Jaffna and it is difficult to imagine they want to sit down and talk just yet," said Tamil legislator Dharmalingam Siddharthan of the anti-LTTE Democratic People's Liberation Front.

Siddharthan said the LTTE appeared to be concentrating on wresting control of Jaffna, to win back prestige and work towards establishing an independent state.

"I don't think the Tigers are interested in collecting bargaining chips by taking camps before going for talks," he said. "Once they have Jaffna, they may not be interested in talks".

However, another Tamil legislator Joseph Pararajasingham said the government, could make use of the present situation to negotiate a cease-fire with the Tigers and enter talks.

But military sources pointed out to previous situations where the LTTE breached the agreement after strengthening their sides.

The government is determined to hold talks despite the escalating Tiger attacks and protests of Sinhala and Buddhist groups.

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