COLOMBO, Oct 24: The Jathika Hela Urumaya, a political party comprising Buddhist monks, is insisting that a break away group of the LTTE should participate in future peace talks between the government and the Tamil Tiger main faction.

The first session of talks will commence on Oct 28.

The monks have asserted that since the rebel dissident group, led by Karuna, a former LTTE militant commander for the eastern Batticaloa district, was in constant conflict with the LTTE main wing, peace talks would be futile if the two sides do not air out their differences.

The Buddhist monks representing the party made this demand when they met the president on Sunday, party sources said.

“We pointed out to President Rajapakse that the representation of the LTTE renegade group at the negotiations is essential since the LTTE have claimed that the Karuna faction, are targeting them,” a JHU source said.