Reuters,  Thu Feb 15 12:24:47 EST 2007

    COLOMBO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday offered to play a bigger role in Sri Lanka's moribund peace process, including talking directly to Tamil Tiger rebels it has outlawed as terrorists, as part of efforts to end a two-decade civil war.Full Story


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- The Academic

Quote:

"We asked the president a very specific question. We said how do you feel about a situation where we might talk to the LTTE and he said: 'As long as it's part of the peace-building process, we have no objections to that.'"

oh oh, lets see how he's going to crawl out of that one.


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"The degree of one's emotion varies inversely with one's knowledge of the facts - the less you know the hotter you get." -- Bertrand Russell

hmm...now that is an interesting suggestion. Is he implying that they would be ready to replace Norway as a peace mediator or do they just want to pop in to LTTE-land and say hi to Prabha. I wouldnt mind Norway getting lost and leaving us alone - they honestly didnt do a good job...if they were even doing there job in the first place.

i think it would be prudent for the GOSL to persue a bigger role by Britain. Regardless of the differences between the IRA's structure and personality and the LTTE's, their mediators do have some kind of successful experiance in this field. Norway's previous mediation attempts in other conflicts i'd heard were questionable too. but that remark is not based on fact.

however, the british should still understand that the GOSL's current aim of weakening the LTTE military capabilities is vital at this point to make the terrorist more forthcoming at peace talks.

i believe with the rise in reports of extortion, intimidation and tamil gang violence, the british maybe thinking of entering our conflict as a means to settling issues related to these activities on their soil. I dont have a problem with this for the most part becos in the end we can rely on a mediator to do a proper job if there were more things involved that affected him.

time will tell if these were just remarks or solid proposals.

It is not a bad idea if it helps to get rid of Norwegians out of the way. But I don't think Britain or any other country can solve our crisis as long as LTTE  refuses to lay down their weapons and agree to a unitary state with democratically elected representatives for the North and East. Let them try but SLAF must not stop or slow down its hunt for the Tigers. Stop only when they surrender their weapons.

I agree. At the very least bring VP's head out of the clouds so he realizes there's no winning for him - only negotiations.

Disarm the LTTE before proper political processes are initiated otherwise the LTTE will just intimidate voters etc. to get their people elected.

mawrata wrote:

It is not a bad idea if it helps to get rid of Norwegians out of the way. But I don't think Britain or any other country can solve our crisis as long as LTTE  refuses to lay down their weapons and agree to a unitary state with democratically elected representatives for the North and East. Let them try but SLAF must not stop or slow down its hunt for the Tigers. Stop only when they surrender their weapons.

Surrendering the weapons isn't going to be enough any more. Surrendering of the leadership is what needed now.

The LTTE terror leadership has to be dismantled. Either the leader and his immediate circle of henchmen should be either killed or flee the country-

Saved by the Bell..so this time it is going to be the British?

LTTE has never kept any promise it made to the UK government. When Anton Balasingham needed kidney treatment while stuck in Wanni, the British authorities facilitated the couple to arrive in London via a boat trip to Thailand and onward journey to UK. In return, Bala made a promise to hold peace talks with the govt which he never kept. LTTE made it happen through connections of one time staunch LTTE supporter Mr. Jayadevan had with the British foreign office. Once bitten, Mr. Jayadevan or anyone else involved with this transaction will know never trust LTTE ever again. These people come forward with good intentions. They have either short memories or they are just part-time observers with the idea out of the box solutions will apply in this situation. However, LTTE gets very innovative when it comes to hatching plans for its own survival. Therefore, by definition out of the box solutions become useless. It’s important to remind them of the consequences of ever trusting the LTTE and offer them a lifeline when everyone needs to help this govt to crush LTTE once and for all for the sake of the long suffering people.


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Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth. - Albert Einstein

If the Brits think they can talk directly and personally to VP in his bunker good luck to them. Speaking to Tamil Chelvam, or Ilaingaitharayan or some other joker who barks at VP's orders is not going to work.  VP and ONLY VP needs to be dealt with.  Do the Brits think they can do that? Or will they be taken for a ride like the Indians before and the Norwegians later?

What happened to all those new proposals and study group recommendations??
Where is Mahinda’s peace package which he was talking about few months ago?
What happened to his “here comes mahindas’ peace proposal” repeats?
After all as a president he came out with the new air port project, but there are legal issues and cannot go-ahead yet!!
Imagine the current number of ministers and their projects and proposals!!!
They can’t even complete a small project with in their ministerial power, how can us expecting them to solve the national issue.
Even MU and Chelseal need referees when they play doesn’t mean they don’t know the rules regulations.
Since both parties LTTE and GoSL knew both very well doesn’t mean we need no one.
We should welcome any one’s input as long as it is in the context of common interest and safe guard of both party’s agenda.
Kicking Norway out or welcoming Brit in both good for LTTE as International still see LTTE is must to solve …..  

Quote:

“The Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been embroiled for months in a new chapter of a war that has killed more than 67,000 people since 1983, and which analysts fear is set to escalate. “

Last edited by ms on Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:09 am; edited 1 time in total

eeky wrote:

Quote:

"We asked the president a very specific question. We said how do you feel about a situation where we might talk to the LTTE and he said: 'As long as it's part of the peace-building process, we have no objections to that.'"

oh oh, lets see how he's going to crawl out of that one.

What's so bad?  Brits negotiating a ceasefire (to supplement our beloved CFA) would help Mahinda consolidate his control over the East.  Tigers will be publicly advertising that they got whipped.  The only one's crying would be JVP and JHU ..


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If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail.- Abraham Maslow

VP, Leader of LTTE is only having a human outlook, inside and heart is lower than an animal. So let's see how British Minister going to talk to this animal who live by killing while his children are abroad having a flourishing life style.  He foremost wanted by Interpol for killing thousands. Sadam, former Iraq leader was hanged for killing hundreds. Punishment in the world will not be enough for Prabha's killings. People will not forget Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Dr. Rajini Thiranagama, Dr. Thiruchelvam etc. etc. Bombing Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Killing innocent Hindu priest, hundreds of Buddhist Priest, and his own supporter Selvam, Journalist etc. etc.

How LTTE mislead UK govt.

-Recalling my brief acquaintance with Late Anton Balasingam (Parts 1-4)

http://www.inepetdentsl.com/cgi-bin/newsscript1.cgi?record=1217
http://www.inepetdentsl.com/cgi-bin/newsscript1.cgi?record=1219
http://www.inepetdentsl.com/cgi-bin/newsscript1.cgi?record=1226
http://www.inepetdentsl.com/cgi-bin/newsscript1.cgi?record=1231


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Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth. - Albert Einstein

Dammika says:

Quote:

Saved by the Bell..so this time it is going to be the British?

Dammika, it is quite natural for us to be cynical - considering the past record of the Tigers and also the poor performances of the previous mediators, India and Norway. But the need of the hour is to take lessons from past mistakes, ours as well as others', and ensure that a new peace process delivers the desired result that would be fair to all communities in SL.

You say 'saved by the Bell'. Is it a reference to the LTTE being saved or Sri Lanka being saved? If mishandled, this process can turn out to be a saving for the LTTE. But, if handled properly, this can be the saving bell for SL.

If the bell is knocked out, is there a guarantee that SL will be saved? So far, fighting has gone well for us. Very well indeed. But, will it continue that way? Even if we lose international support in the process? The LTTE is likely to perform better if the war moves over to the Vanni region. I am praying that I will be proved wrong here, but reality is different.

Can we be so confident of victory in this war that we can reject the British offer, knowing very well that such a rejection can cost us international support, which can turn out to be a disadvantage for us in taking on the LTTE in the North?

MR must welcome the British offer, on condition that absolutely no violations by the LTTE will be tolerated. There should be provision to retaliate for any such violation.

To facilitate the process, the government must simultaneously come up with the political solution, which will then be the basis for negotiations.

Most important, if Prabhakaran is planning to ask the British to go to hell, let us not jump the gun and do his dirty work for him.


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"I do not suffer from Autism, but I do suffer from the way you treat me." -Tyler Durdin

The Brits are obviously giving it a try with good intentions.
Somehow they think these hardened bunkermen match up with
the IRA folks and their Irish experience.

Good luck to them and GOSL.

At this juncture, the key to lasting peace is with the l.t.te and the stimulus
for that is a strong offer of devolution of powers with the Tamils.