British overtures underline prospects of talks with LTTE

However, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), with whom the Sri Lankan government is at war, are headquartered in the United Kingdom and operate a flourishing international network from Eelam House in south London, including propaganda and fund-raising activities. In the British government’s books, the LTTE is not yet a terrorist organisation, making the Sri Lankan government’s elation seem a little premature.

Earlier this year, Malcolm Rifkind, foreign minister in the previous British government, and his deputy, Liam Fox, brokered an agreement between the two main political groups in Sri Lanka — the ruling People’s Alliance coalition and the Opposition United National Party — on a bipartisan approach to talks with the LTTE.

The agreement triggered speculation that the government would soon begin talks with the group and that the British might play a prominent role in the negotiations, notwithstanding an imminent change of government. When the LTTE’s main political representative, Karikalan left the group’s Vanni hideout for London, where he is at present, it added to speculation about negotiations.

It is in this context that the meeting between Kadirgamar and Fatchett assumes significance. It is now believed that the Sri Lankan government would not like to begin negotiations with the Tigers in the middle of Operation Jaya Sekuru — the military offensive to reopen the strategic highway that connects the Jaffna peninsula to the rest of the mainland through LTTE territory.

There is a possibility of negotiations only after the military achieves its objective of reopening the road which could take months considering the heavy losses that the Sri Lankan army has had to bear in Operation Jaya Sekuru.

Sources said that on Friday alone, the army lost 18 soldiers while attempting to secure areas around Omanthai as the LTTE rained them with mortar shells.

In fact, the army has been unable to make any advance on the highway beyond Rambaikulam, two kilometres from Omanthai, secured in the first few days of the operation.

Meanwhile, the LTTE has distributed printed leaflets to Tamils living in areas under their control that they would defend Vanni to the last man.