COLOMBO, Dec 26: The Tamil Tigers on Thursday accused Sri Lanka’s army of trying to sabotage peace talks by demanding the rebels disarm as part of a two-way de-escalation deal.

But Scandinavian truce monitors rejected the Tigers’ position, warning that one-sided de-escalation could hurt the entire Norwegian-sponsored peace process, aimed at ending three decades of bloodshed that has claimed more than 60,000 lives.

The army had proposed that it dismantle camps located on private property in “high security zones” subject to the guerrillas disarming and de-commissioning their heavy weapons.

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rejected the proposal as “belligerent and hostile,” saying it had “critically reviewed” the position made by the top army general in the northern peninsula of Jaffna, Sarath Fonseka.

“It is quite clear that the Sri Lankan Army is opposed to the peace process and is adopting a hardline position in full awareness of the negative impact this will have on efforts to resolve the conflict in Sri Lanka,” the LTTE said.

The Tigers want the army to leave its camps in war-torn areas, considering it a “humanitarian” issue.

But the Scandinavians monitoring a truce between the two sides agreed with the army that any such move could only be made in tandem with some disarmament by the rebels.

“In order to build peace the forces on both sides must be kept stable,” said Norwegian army general Trond Furuhovde, who heads the monitoring mission.

“What applies to the LTTE in this context should also apply for the government,” he said in a statement.

“In Jaffna, simply dismantling High Security Zones for resettlement and handing over land for cultivation will decrease both security and combat potential of the government forces,” Furuhovde said.

He said LTTE representatives had argued that maintaining their military strength was vital if they are to be successful in negotiations.

But the general said the balance of forces was the basis of the truce between the rebels and the government, which took effect at Christmas last year and was made formal with Norwegian mediation in February.

“Disturbing that balance is disturbing the ceasefire,” Furuhovde said. “An unrealistic normalisation program in the name of progress and development should not be allowed to come into force at the expense of security, as this could undermine the building of permanent peace.”

The Tigers said there was no point in a meeting of a sub-committee on de-escalation and normalisation following the army’s latest demands, although they did not say they were completely pulling out of the peace process.

The Tigers in a three-page statement said the Sri Lankan army was making the “easing the difficulties of the people of Jaffna conditional on unacceptable demands on the LTTE.”

“Disarming of the LTTE cadres and de-commissioning of their weapons are non-negotiable issues at this stage. These are critical issues linked to the safety and security of the Tamil people.

“To raise the issue at this stage of the peace process and stipulate it as a condition for the humanitarian task of resettlement has a diabolical motive of disrupting the current peace effort,” the LTTE statement said.

The Tigers and government have held three rounds of talks and a fourth is due to open in Thailand on Jan 6.

“The Sri Lanka army’s refusal to honour the commitments already reached between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE seriously undermines the ongoing peace process,” the rebels said.

“The step-by-step approach hitherto adopted by all parties is intended to build confidence on both sides. As such, the army’s refusal to honour the agreements already reached considerably weakens this confidence.”

There was no immediate reaction from the Sri Lankan government.—AFP