Shimali Senanayake in Colombo,  Tue Feb  7 00:12:19 EST 2006
The government's peace team on Tuesday began training in negotiation
skills as they braced for tough talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels set
for Feb. 22, officials said.

Two top conflict experts from the U.S.-based Harvard Negotiation
Project or HNP, will conduct the four-day training program with the
government's main negotiating team and the back-up team, officials
involved in the process said, on condition of anonymity.

The mission of the Harvard Negotiation Project - created in 1979 - is
to improve the theory, teaching, and practice of negotiation and
dispute resolution, so that people can deal more constructively with
conflicts ranging from the interpersonal to the international.

The government delegation led by Health Minister Nimal Siripala de
Silva will be briefed on the fundamentals of negotiations during the
round table interactive sessions, the officials said.


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_________________
- The Academic

This merely illustrates the lack of confidence and pride and self esteem on the part of the Sri Lankan Government. A four-day training spell by a team of so-called experts is a ridiculous exercise. Good faith, logic and reason cannot be taught. They come from within. Search within yourselves rather than run to ambition-driven Harvard to solve your problems.

Dear Amicus,

Then why do people practice before giving a talk on a topic like "Myself"? Is that because they don't know who they are? Preparation, pre-planning, studying the other party, training, consulting experts are all part of being professional. LTTE also does the same. They consult international Lawyers, faithfully follow the Norweigians, etc.

The only training the government delegation should get is three fold:
1. The history of all previous talks--from those who participated.
2. The history of the northeast, as perceived by the South and the North.
3. The current situation in the northeast--from all possible sources incl. government/military officials, NGOs (foreign & local), journalists and most of all, the people there.

We must remember that this is a NATIONAL issue and should not therefore 'internationalize' it any further!

Tigers say they will only talk truce at Geneva talks
(AFP) 7 February 2006
khaleejtimes.com: Tamil Tiger rebels on Tuesday ruled out discussing a political solution to Sri Lanka?s ethnic conflict during talks in Geneva later this month and said only their faltering truce would be on the agenda. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said two days of talks starting February 22 would only focus on strengthening a ceasefire arranged and put in place by Norway from February 23, 2002. The LTTE is not prepared to discuss modifications to the ceasefire or to push the ceasefire aside and waste time talking about a political solution (to the conflict),? the Tigers said in an editorial in their official organ ?Vuduthalaippulikal.?

Please do not publish links to political websites. We do not mind a link to a specific article but top level links are inappropriate. Thanks

If the talks did not go in GOSL way then we can blame the Harvard Team. Just like we do Norway.

Check out to make sure  that there are no LTTE sympathisers in the Harvard Team.

LTTE has sufficient funds to buy out these guys. Watch out.

innocent wrote:

If the talks did not go in GOSL way then we can blame the Harvard Team. Just like we do Norway.

Check out to make sure  that there are no LTTE sympathisers in the Harvard Team.

LTTE has sufficient funds to buy out these guys. Watch out.

Good point. LTTE is an international terrorist organization operative in 54 countries of the world.They have the money to buy off anybody. I do not for one minute  trust Balasingham's wife as a secretary for the conference. We should have a totaly independent person as a secretary. That woman is brainwashed by the terrorists.
 I am so glad that the GOSL has accepted help from experienced negotiators. It was Gandhi who said that he will open all the windows in his room for fresh air, but only he will make a decision to move not the wind.  Likewise lets get any advice we need. However, a move towards lasting peace could only be achieved through non-violent means with respect and dignity for human life in every race.

GOSL can get all the training from Harvard. But negotiations are all about BATNA (Better Alternative To Negotiated Agreements)

GOSL is 'talking' because militarily, there is a stalemate. Economy is in tatters with partners of the government refuse to move from orthodox communist policies and "Thousand Tank Projects". No one thinks about the need for global competitiveness. GOSL's BATNA is weak.

LTTE is 'talking' because it needs more wiggle room from its current international straight jacket. Even thought its BATNA is strong (Military strength), it has to contend with international opinion and local shadow war.

So both parties will talk and buy time until the climate favours one or the other.

The third rate lawyers and beaurocrats (with few exceptions) in the GoSL Team, are being "trained" how to "negotiate" !
This the first time this has happened anywhere, in any country! These guys have been too busy amassing wealth and/or perks, having had no time to read and understand governance in democracies, and constitution-making ! They are experts only in political bootlicking and changing 'allegiances' for their own benefit whenever it suits them. They will not have their 'criminal' type side-kicks who 'campaigned' & pasted posters for them, in geneva.
What Rainbow says is correct - but applies only to knowledgeable persons who are unbiassed with regard to race, religion & language, and beleive in discipline in all state sectors, including the armed forces and police.

LANKAN wrote:

The third rate lawyers and beaurocrats (with few exceptions) in the GoSL Team, are being "trained" how to "negotiate" !
This the first time this has happened anywhere, in any country! These guys have been too busy amassing wealth and/or perks, having had no time to read and understand governance in democracies, and constitution-making ! They are experts only in political bootlicking and changing 'allegiances' for their own benefit whenever it suits them. They will not have their 'criminal' type side-kicks who 'campaigned' & pasted posters for them, in geneva.
What Rainbow says is correct - but applies only to knowledgeable persons who are unbiassed with regard to race, religion & language, and beleive in discipline in all state sectors, including the armed forces and police.

Geee another Bootlicker lamenting the quality of the GOSL delegation.

Lets see the LTTE delegation.

1. Anta- Fake PhD alcholic former translator for the British Embassy. "knowledgeable persons who are unbiassed " ha!!!
    remember that racist Maveer speech delivered in a drunken stupor about Sinhalese ?? Remember the comments about Bangkok , call girls etc?? Compared to this racist uncivilized fool any wretched .. pulled from the gutters of the Wellawatte canal would be qualified,dignified and most of all civilized. Much obliged that this guy is your gold standard for a "negotiator".

2. Thamilselvan - Hopeless political comissar . This is the fool who was bragging about how Karuna was a one man   problem and now meekly going to Geneva to beg for disarming the paramilitaries!!. Sheesh the darn LRRP.


3. "Police Chief" Natesan. A constable of the Sri Lanka police who is known to carry luxuary foreign goods" for Mathivathini and the Pirbakaran Brood through KIA!! customs. In other words the bag boy for Pirbakaran.  Another quality product of the Eelam school of  Constitutional Affairs I suppose. Clap on for this guy!!

4. Jeyam - Another bootlicker whose penchant to lick the boot of the SunGoat got the better of him even when the SunGoat himself pulled the nails out of the fool for being on Mahathaya' plot. I suppose this fool learnt his "constitutional law" while he was being tortured by Pottu Amman?? hi hi The Token LTTE'er from the East now that their ex special commander is suddenly turning up all over the place with conviniently placed "boys" blowing off other "boys". Some liberation you guys have in the east!!!

5. Adle.- The best thrash. An ex nurse whose only claim to fame is that she "Bagged" Anta the brilliant "Dr"Balasingham. ha ha  ha so you guys think this "lady"( pardon the real ones!) is another "constitutional expert" in the service of Eelam..
Good for you!

And these are the guys against whom you hold high standards of "knowledgeable persons who are unbiassed " from the GOSL..

Thanks man .. Even for a bootlicker your posting takes the cake!!!


_________________
There are no minorities in Sri Lanka. --- Dr.Percy Mahinda Rajapakse Ph.D

Namdev, Who is a bootlicker?

Your sentences only carry ridicule without substantiation. It is not the way to counter the points put forward by Lankan.

The point is that The GOSL team needs training, but LTTE team is not looking for any. They know all about the problems that they want to discuss, while the GOSL team, though in senior Govt positions, are unaware and require help. How can they carry out the wishes of the Govt and its people in a negotiation? How can they be leaders? Getting votes from the uneducated masses does not make them good leaders. They are only good at what Lankan said. This situation proves that.
Isn't that pathetic? Unfortunately that is the situation.

An American Professor from UCLA wrote last week that MR and his team are 'Demonstarting Astonishing Ineptitude'.

Your hate words don't win arguements.
Write something sensible. Thanks.

innocent wrote:

Namdev, Who is a bootlicker?

Looks like I upset you "innocent BOY? " Bootlicker?? Ahh run to the nearest mirror my boy..

Quote:

Your sentences only carry ridicule without substantiation. It is not the way to counter the points put forward by Lankan.

Ahh no surpise there for a fellow bootlicker LANKAN's points are decent while mine are ridicule. Calling people "third rate lawyers and beaurocrats" is ok in your books? Of course what can you expect from a fellow traveller of the bot licker brigade!!

Quote:

The point is that The GOSL team needs training, but LTTE team is not looking for any. They know all about the problems that they want to discuss, while the GOSL team, though in senior Govt positions, are unaware and require help. How can they carry out the wishes of the Govt and its people in a negotiation?

So whats wrong with getting trained to deal with a bunch of hooligans and thugs?? I am no fan of the GOSL but for the most part these are not people who are aware of the military implications etc so whats wrong in them getting educated?? " Or I forgot you are a follower of a 8 grade drop out ?? For you learning is not a worthwhile endevour I suppose."

Quote:

 How can they be leaders? Getting votes from the uneducated masses does not make them good leaders.

Oh yeah the whole of Sri Lanka is uneducated while you Tiger pups hiding behind computers are the only enlightned ones!! At least these fellows got voted by "uneducated masses". WHo voted for your Thecia Thalivar? Oh I forgot he became the sole rep by killing all the other "reps" and that is ok in your book.

Quote:

An American Professor from UCLA wrote last week that MR and his team are 'Demonstarting Astonishing Ineptitude'.

Big deal.. The elam lobby is feeding one professor out of a million  professors and he is sooo busy releasing press releases at the drop of a hat. Hey I can suggest another one for you?? That profound genius in Uppsala Peter whatever?? Do you know how many professors are there in the US?? For you guys any time someone with a "PhD" utters something in support of the "project" it is the fountain of truth. Hell why don't you look up Peter Chalk and read what he has to say about your lord and leader the SunGoat?? He is another professor too since you seem to give special prominnace to people with Professorships..

Quote:

Your hate words don't win arguements.
Write something sensible. Thanks.

Hi hi I enjoy this. You come here after reading Tamilnet and that stupid professors press release and totaly ignore the vitruptive  comments from your fellow traveller LANKAN.You don't think LANKANS comments are hate comments??  And then you ask me to write something "sensible". Give me a break will you. I write "sense" to people who have "sense" and I don't include you in that category. Sorry.

And if you have what it takes dispute me on any of the things I have written about the LTTE delegation. I dare you!!! And don't be a weeine and quote some stupid statement  from an ill informed professor or lift something from Eelam bootlicker website.  Write something on your own.


_________________
There are no minorities in Sri Lanka. --- Dr.Percy Mahinda Rajapakse Ph.D

Serendipity wrote:

GOSL can get all the training from Harvard. But negotiations are all about BATNA (Better Alternative To Negotiated Agreements)

GOSL is 'talking' because militarily, there is a stalemate. Economy is in tatters with partners of the government refuse to move from orthodox communist policies and "Thousand Tank Projects". No one thinks about the need for global competitiveness. GOSL's BATNA is weak.

LTTE is 'talking' because it needs more wiggle room from its current international straight jacket. Even thought its BATNA is strong (Military strength), it has to contend with international opinion and local shadow war.

So both parties will talk and buy time until the climate favours one or the other.

You hit the nail right on the head. They will talk and not resort to war as long as there is something to gain by not going to war. This was the case when the priginal CFA was signed. The ceasefire existed not because the tigers had changed its strategy or the GOSL had turned away from war. I think that the International COmmunity tried appeasing the LTTE to make the no war situation more benificial for them. The same goes for GOSL. They flirted with war when they sniffed that Karuma could be used to their advantage. The only way to make the war stop is to continue to make the no war situation more benificial for both parties to the conflict. Unless both sides work towards this, the international community can only delay the inevitable for a later date.

LANKAN wrote:

The third rate lawyers and beaurocrats (with few exceptions) in the GoSL Team, are being "trained" how to "negotiate" !
This the first time this has happened anywhere, in any country! These guys have been too busy amassing wealth and/or perks, having had no time to read and understand governance in democracies, and constitution-making ! They are experts only in political bootlicking and changing 'allegiances' for their own benefit whenever it suits them. They will not have their 'criminal' type side-kicks who 'campaigned' & pasted posters for them, in geneva.
What Rainbow says is correct - but applies only to knowledgeable persons who are unbiassed with regard to race, religion & language, and beleive in discipline in all state sectors, including the armed forces and police.

MIND YOU SRI LANKAN GOVERMENT DELEGATION DO NOT HAVE BLOOD IN THEIR HAND LIKE THEIR TERRORIST CONTERPARTS !!

If I were asked to go and negotiate with a bunch of drug lords to keep our street safe, I will certainly go get some training. Same with the GOSL. They know nothing about the language of the terorrists. So, better get some training. The terrorists have already undergone heavy training and they are in good form to kill more. All what they need is some civilization classes. People like LANKAN will never realize this untill his/her own little brother is forcefully recruited a child soldier.