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Chandrika - LTTE Talks: 1994/95 

Letter from LTTE leader
to Sri Lanka President

25 February 1995 (1)

LTTE Headquarters
Jaffna

Hon. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo

Dear President,

    Thank you for your letter dated 16th February 1995. Please excuse the delay in our response since we have been awaiting a reply from the government to an important letter addressed to Mr. Balapatabendi, your secretary on the 13th February 1995.

    Mr. Balapatabendi in his brief communication of 25th February 1995 addressed to Mr. Tamilselvan chose to ignore several critical issues raised by the LTTE with regard to modalities of the cessation of hostilities the formation of monitoring committees the resumption of peace talks and other matters and has made an extra-ordinary claim that the Government had taken all necessary steps to alleviate the hardships suffered by the people in the North.

The Government is fully aware of the position of the LTTE with regard to the opening up of a passage between the Jaffna peninsula and the Northern mainland. Ignoring our view on this crucial issue, Mr. Balapatabendi has made a unilateral announcement, re-stating the government's old position, that the pathways (Pooneryn and Elephant Pass) have been opened to the public. This pronouncement might help to propagate a disinformation campaign but will not in anyway serve to promote the peace process. Needless to say we are deeply disappointed. Such unilateral decisions demonstrate the fact that your Government has given primacy to the strategic interests of the occupational army over and above the urgent needs of the Tamil civilian masses.

    You are fully aware that the economic embargo is not fully lifted. Several essential items, i.e.petrol, diesel, motor vehicles, vehicle spare parts, batteries, fertilisers etc. which are vital for the social and economic life of our people are still banned under the prohibited category of 'military materials'. Furthermore, even the relaxed items are not reaching the public because of the self-imposed restrictions by the army at Vavuniya. This is the reality of the situation. Our people in the North are fully aware of this reality. Yet Mr. Balapatabendi writes to inform us that the embargo on all necessary items has been lifted. This is far from the truth. Such fallacious assumptions contradicting the reality of the situation might serve as a tool for propaganda but will not alleviate the suffering of our people nor help to further the interest of peace.

    What perturbs us more is the apparent lack of interest on the part of the Government to take constructive steps to transform the current cessation of armed hostilities into a stable, full-fledged cease-fire. We have addressed several letters to this effect calling for detailed discussions and clarification of several issues pertaining to modalities of' cease-fire, but to our disappointment the Government has not responded positively. Such a disinterested attitude on the part of the government has caused undue delay in the formation of monitoring committees, to be chaired by foreign delegates, which are crucial for the stabilisation of the conditions of cease-fire. This is a serious matter and the failure on the part of the government to resolve this issue will seriously undermine the conditions of peace.

    You will appreciate that the lifting of the embargo on fuel and other essential items, the opening of a passage to Jaffna, the stabilisation of the conditions of cease-fire, are of fundamental importance to undertake major programmes of reconstruction and development of the North. Therefore, we call upon the Government to seek a negotiated settlement to these critical matters with the LTTE so that it would facilitate the practical implementation of major reconstruction projects in the war affected areas. In this context, we wish to point out to you that our delegation, at the last round of talks, had suggested the formation of an appropriate authority comprising Government representatives and the LTTE be constituted with adequate authority to plan and imple7nent all reconstruction projects. This suggestion was accepted by the Government delegates. Therefore, we urge the government to act according to the agreement made at the peace negotiations which will help the speedy and smooth implementation of any reconstruction projects.

    We hope you will give earnest and serious consideration to our suggestions.

Thanking you.

With kind regards. Yours sincerely,

( V.Pirabaharan)
Leader Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

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