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Sri Lankan Prime Minister Says He Will Not Impair Peace Process
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has said that he would not impair the peace process "even in the lightest way " if the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels genuinely seeks to begin negotiations with the government to end the 17-year ethnic war in the country.
He was quoted by state-run Daily News on Monday as saying while inaugurating a student activities center in Horana, south of Colombo, that the government would be supportive of the peace offer made late last month by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran if his offer was genuine.
"We are obliged to give a helping hand to an obdurate individual if he wants to pursue a path of redemption," he said, adding that what everyone wanted was peace and they would be watching the situation closely.
The prime minister seems to have softened his harsh position toward LTTE rebel's peace offer. Previously he insisted on several occasions that military option will continue as earlier experiences have shown that the LTTE wants a ceasefire only when it is weak.
LTTE leader Prabhakaran offered an unconditional resumption of peace talks with the government but he also wanted de-escalation in the warring areas to create a conducive atmosphere for the possible peace talks, a requirement he said should not be interpreted as a precondition for talks.
The government has not given a formal response to LTTE's offer as President Kumaratunga is currently on a European tour.
The LTTE rebels have been fighting against government forces for a separatist Tamil homeland in the north and east of the country since 1983. The long-running war has claimed over 60,000 lives.
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