"'There is no point in talking to the President alone. We must talk to the government. Therefore the Coalition government must first clarify its policy. Please tell the government that it must proclaim, in a single voice, its policy regarding the ethnic problem and the peace efforts so as to facilitate the next step in the peace effort.' Informed sources say that this is the essence of the message that the LTTE has sent to the government through the Norwegians...She is showing one face to the international community and another face to the LTTE. At the same time her partners in her coalition are showing yet another face to the Sri Lankans in the south."

�There is no point in talking to the President alone. We must talk to the government. Therefore the Coalition government must first clarify its policy. Please tell the government that it must proclaim, in a single voice, its policy regarding the ethnic problem and the peace efforts so as to facilitate the next step in the peace effort.�

Informed sources say that this is the essence of the message that the LTTE has sent to the government through the Norwegians. This strategic move by the LTTE should reveal the deceit of the government side that is showing two different faces to the south Sri Lanka and to the international community.

The President has formed a government by bringing together chauvinistic forces. She is showing one face to the international community and another face to the LTTE. At the same time her partners in her coalition are showing yet another face to the Sri Lankans in the south. This coalition that is showing different faces to suit the people, time and place has no intention of being involved in the peace process honestly.

Tamils know very well that this government does not have the inclination to give back to them their rights in an honorable manner. Tamil people also know very well that the President who formed this government of chauvinists only intends to pretend to the international community and the country that it is genuine about the peace efforts in order to drag out the term of the government. That the President is only capable of this is also known to the Tamil side.

The latest request by the LTTE has the paved way for revealing the truth to the international community by ripping this mask. The LTTE has effectively requested the government stop cheating the international community and the country and put an end to their acts deceit by publicly stating their policy.

There is no response from the President to this request and there will be none. President has her own plan. It was drawn to give priority to issues and moves that gives importance to ensuring the continuation of her power. To implement this plan well, her power base must be firm at this time. She calculates that it is by showing that she is interested in the peace efforts that her government can be established firmly in power. At the same time she also knows that she cannot make enemies with her coalition partner the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinistic JVP. Thus she is attempting her moves between these two opposing forces. The LTTE through their latest request has checkmated her.

If the government is to proclaim that granting back to the Tamils the powers due to them is the way to achieve peace then her chauvinistic partners will let her down. If, however, the government does not proclaim its policy publicly, the Tamil side and international community will be angry and the liberation struggle of the Eelam Tamils will be legitimized in the international arena. President Chandrika Kumaratunge pulled in different directions by these opposing forces is unable to respond to LTTE�s latest request.