LTTE delegation leaves Kilinochchi for Geneva

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 February 2006, 11:21 GMT]
Liberation Tigers delegation left Kilinochchi Friday morning to participate in negotiations with Government of Sri Lanka(GOSL) facilitated by the Norwegian Government in Geneva, Switzerland scheduled to be held February 22-23. Head of LTTE Political Wing, Mr Thamilchelvan, told the media before leaving Kilinochchi that the talks will discuss ways to implement February 2002 Truce agreement between the parties who are meeting for direct talk after more than three years. The delegation departed Kilinochchi grounds in a Sri Lanka Air Force( SLAF) helicopter around 9:00 am Friday.

The LTTE delegation comprised, in addition to S.P Thamilchelvan, Head of Thamileelam Police B. Nadesan, Senior Commander Col. Jayam, and former LTTE Political Head of Batticaloa Ilenthirayan(Marshall).

Two LTTE officials, S. Pulidevan, director of Peace Secretariat, and Ms Selvi, had earlier left Kilinochchi via land route to Colombo.

The LTTE delegation of Geneva talk will be headed by LTTE Peace Negotiator and Political Strategist Anton Balasingam who resides in London, LTTE Peace Secretariat sources said .

The talks are due to take place in a political atmosphere when both parties have exchanged sharp words related to the concept of Tamil homeland. When asked if there was international pressure applied to participate in the talks Thamilchelvan said, "We honour the expectation and efforts of the international community and participate on the basis of the consensus for the talks reached between the Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim and our leader".

He emphasised that the Geneva talks will address only the proper implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) and the immediate relief from the military oppression of Tamils which continue in the form of assassinations, abductions, occupation, violence and harassment which could only be achieved implementing the CFA properly and fully.

Thamilchelvan stressed the absolute to create an atmosphere of normalcy in the lives of the Tamil people who are unable to have faith in the Sri Lanka government because of the continued violence by the state armed forces in the four years even after the signing of the CFA.

Thamilchelvan addressing a question about renegade Karuna, said, "Karuna affair was an internal matter which could have been solved through disciplinary measures had the Sri Lankan government turned in Karuna to the LTTE. Instead of doing so their intelligence unit has exploited the situation to commit many acts of violence against sections of the Tamil people. Turning Karuna to the LTTE is the proper thing to do."

Thamilchelvan ruled out the need for amending the CFA. He said that CFA was drawn with the assistance of the international community and matters related to security, disarming paramilitaries and creating normalcy in Tamil areas are adequately addressed in the existing provisions. He added that proper understanding and implementation of the agreement will put an end to violence and create a conducive atmosphere for peace talks.

He also mentioned that they have received invitations to visit other European countries, which he said they will consider after the Geneva talks.