COLOMBO, Oct 3: The Sri Lankan government has told a visiting Norwegian envoy that it is ready to start peace talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels by end of October or early November even as the guerrillas blamed the government for what they called ‘offensive aggression’.
Visiting Norwegian peace envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, who met government officials on Monday, held talks with the LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilchelvam on Tuesday at the LTTE headquarters in the rebel-controlled northern Killinochchi region.
Jon Hanssen-Bauer had been informed by the Sri Lankan government that talks could recommence on Oct 30 or November 10, sources at the government peace secretariat said. LTTE spokesman Daya Master, meanwhile, confirmed that the Tiger separatists had agreed for talks between October 28 and 30.
“We hope that this time around there would be a positive result. We want the LTTE to give us an assurance that they will stop all attacks on the government military so we can work out a political solution that will benefit all citizens of Sri Lanka”, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who headed the government delegation for talks in July this year said when contacted.
The agreement from the government and the LTTE to resume peace negotiations after a deadlock of seven months come despite both sides continuing to exchange artillery fire on Tuesday with Sri Lanka Air Force bombing the Pooneryin area in rebel controlled territory.
The Kafir jets flew over Killinochchi and attacked specific targets while talks between Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer and LTTE officials continued. The military said the bombing was in retaliation to rebel attacks on troops in the Muhamalai region in the north.
Government officials say despite the LTTE’s willingness to resume talks, they doubt the sincerity of the guerillas.
“We have never given up hoping for positive results but we have learnt from bitter experiences. The LTTE has many times used peace to build up their military power,” head of the government peace secretariat, Dr. Palitha Kohona told Dawn.
Kohona further said that the discussions that are being held at present between the government and the opposition, the United National Party (UNP) was an indication that the government was seriously considering a political solution to ending 23 years of bloodshed.
