Tigers slam rejection of mediation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 September 1999, 13:12 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers today condemned the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministers rejection of international mediation to resolve the island's ethnic conflict and said it reflected the "narrow, intransigent and uncompromising attitude" of the government.

"We regret to note that Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, in a press interview in New York on Monday, has rejected international mediation as unwanted and unnecessary," the LTTE said in a statement released today.

"Mr. Kadirgamar's statement reflects the narrow, intransigent and uncompromising attitude of the Sri Lanka government which has been seeking a repressive military solution to the ethnic conflict by committing widescale human rights violations against the Tamil people," the statement said.

"Having rejected the assistance and involvement of the international community in seeking a peaceful negotiated settlement, Mr. Kadirgamar has done irreparable damage to peace efforts and driven a deeper wedge between the warring nations in the island," the Tigers said.

The LTTE said it was in favour of international mediation because direct talks between the parties in conflict have failed due to mutual distrust and hostility.

"The leadership of the LTTE has also openly declared the necessity of third party mediation for a negotiated political settlement," the Tigers said.

"We are surprised to note that Mr. Kadirgamar, who has been pleading with the international community to interfere and take repressive measures against the LTTE, is reluctant to seek international assistance to end the ever escalating war and violence in the country," the statement said.

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