Representatives of Norway met and had discussions with the LTTE chief negotiator, Anton Balasingam two days ago in London. Norway was represented by the Special peace envoy, Eric Solheim and an official from the Norway’s Foreign Ministry, Ms. Lisa Golding.
Anton Balasingam placed the following conditions if the LTTE is to resume talks with Sri Lankan Government. Arms from the Tamil armed groups, aligned with the security forces, should be taken off or take them in and send them out of North and East.
A general mechanism must be formed to oversee the equal distribution of foreign Tsunami assistance to the affected people.
It should be noted that the government was prompt in acting immediately after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to urge the Tamil armed groups to surrender their arms in the presence of foreign observers (which was irrelevant to the MOU as we have mostly heard of the LTTE using their arms to kill the others and threaten the public).
Following the death threats to the registered democratic parties by the LTTE the Sri Lanka government provides effective police protection for the safety of the party members of these parties.
It is a notable fact that the LTTE is continuing to harass and obstruct the political activities of Tamil political parties in the North and East, hindering the freedom of movement of these partiers and encouraging their supporters and hooligans to attack and disrupt the activities of the LTTE’s political rivals.
The attack on the EPDP office in Neduntivu, demanding them to vacate, by the LTTE in the guise of Tamil public is just an example.
It is the routine and natural practice of the LTTE to drag on the peace negotiations and to put forward conditions, which cannot be met, from time to time.
It is to be noted that Anton Balasingam’s new condition is yet another stumbling block for the resumption of peace talks.