“Your reasons unconvincing; get back to talks” US Envoy tells the LTTE

[April 25, 2003 - 9.30 GMT]

The US Ambassador here in Colombo has urged the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] to return to peace talks. The US Ambassador called on both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka to continue to honour the terms of the ceasefire agreement even while talks are in abeyance. He also advised the LTTE to reflect carefully on its ‘own transgressions’.

Ambassador Ashley Wills said, “There had been problems in implementing the truce”, and continued, “But blame for this does not fall exclusively on the Government, as the LTTE’s statement suggests. The Tigers, too, bear heavy responsibility for numerous breaches of the ceasefire.”

The US envoy appeared to pull no punches when he said “Assassinations of opponents, intimidation of Muslims and taxation without representation, aggressive Sea Tiger behaviour and continued child recruitment do not build trust in the LTTE's intentions," 

Ashley Wills says "We've reviewed carefully the ostensible reasons for these decisions cited in Mr. Balasingham's letter to Prime Minister (Ranil Wickremesinghe)," The US envoy said "We do not find them convincing."

“Too much blood has been spilled, too many opportunities for forgiveness missed. If I may quote an Indian politician ‘It’s impossible to shake hands with a clenched fist’. And I might add that its hard to shake hands with one’s back turned”, concluded the US Ambassador. 

The LTTE on Monday withdrew from the next session of peace talks and also the Tokyo donors’ meeting due in June. The LTTE reasoned, they felt slighted and were unhappy with the Government's failure to relocate the April 14 donors’ meeting, held in Washington, to a place where they would be welcome. The US State Department designated the LTTE a foreign terrorist organization in 1997, which position remains unchanged.

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: April 25, 2003  - 9.30 GMT.