September 30, 2002	Monday	Rajab 22, 1423

NEW DELHI: The Norwegian envoy, Eric Solheim, a member of the team to facilitate talks between the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government — who was here last week — met Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and briefed about the peace process underway in Thailand.

Barring a general welcome at the developments, Sibal does not appear to have been over enthusiastic about the talks. This is because the government of India is still smarting under the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and there have been demands that Prabhakaran, the LTTE chief, should be arrested and brought to book for the killing.

The government of India has further denied landing facilities to Balasingham on his way to Thailand for the talks. Sibal put at rest some speculation that Solheim might have repeated the request that he should be allowed facilities on “humanitarian ground”. Sibal made it clear that Solheim had made no such request.

Understandably, Solheim was extremely reticent of the talks he had with Sibal and contended himself by saying that New Delhi was “supportive of the ongoing dialogue between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government.” He also added that Balasingham would meet Prabhakaran to brief him about the first round of talks which had just concluded.

The homeland for the Tamils is composed of the northern areas of Sri Lanka and portions of the eastern province. At the facilitating committee, Balasingham spelt out the LTTE’s expectations of the strategic talks which have been slated for October.

Balasingham insisted on the right of self determination for the Tamils, but on the contrary Peiris “stood unwavering for the degree of devolution within the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.” Thus it seems that some of reconciliation would be necessary before the strategic talks.