India will not broker ceasefire

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Norwegian Peace Initiative

India has decided not to broker a ceasefire in Sri Lanka, and has instead concentrated its efforts on urging the Lankan President to move rapidly towards devolution of power.

The government wants Norway and organisations like the ICRC and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to bring about a ceasefire and a political settlement thereafter. Humanitarian aid, however, has not been ruled out.

The government believes that Mrs Chandrika Kumaratunga’s problems stem from her government’s failure to devolve power. It has advised the President to obtain a clear political consensus on the issue, and said that the devolution package should meet the aspirations of all sections.India, however, made it clear that it does not see the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, and that it remains committed to the island nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Observers feel the strategy would yield several advantages. It would enable the government to keep out of the fluid military struggle, allowing other parties, backed by the USA and EU, to resolve the stand-off. It would satisfy the pro-Tamil groups in the Vajpayee government, while allowing India to hold on to its stand supporting Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity.

US under secretary of state for political affairs Mr Thomas Pickering said last night that the USA will not recognise a unilateral declaration of independence by the LTTE, reports PTI. The international community, including India, will always support the integrity of Sri Lanka, he said.

At the end of his one-day official visit to Sri Lanka, Mr Pickering warned the rebels: “in the event the LTTE declares a unilateral independence, the international community automatically becomes an arbitrator .... I don’t believe there is any international support I could find for the Eelam”.