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LTTE to Norway
16 April 2006
"We have already explained to you that we cannot
attend the Geneva talks without meeting our eastern commanders and
take some firm decisions."
Mr.Hans Bratskar
H.E. The Ambassador for Norway
Dear Ambassador,
We write to explain to you the unfortunate events of 15 April 2006 and the
situation that has arisen as a result of it.
We have requested you and the SLMM to arrange the usual transportation of our
eastern commanders within a short period following the Geneva talks. After
fixing the dates for the travel of our commanders, SLMM informed us that the
GoSL has rejected air travel of our commanders. Our leadership was shocked and
angered by the GoSL rejection of an already established practice. Given, the
importance of the decisions we had to make before the next Geneva talks, and the
importance of the travel of our commanders for this purpose, we proposed to SLMM
the arrangements already in place for sea travel of our members. The GoSL
informed through SLMM that it is banning this mode of travel as well and
insisted that we must travel only in the vessel that is arranged by the Sri
Lankan Navy.
While the GoSL is holding well published all party conferences prior to the
Geneva talks, it is placing all of these hurdles to prevent us from holding even
a central committee meeting of our leadership. On top of this, the GoSL has,
blocked the movements and activities of our commanders and disregarded the
standards of ceasefire agreement. This has placed our liberation organization
under serious limitations creating a problematic environment in which we are
forced to function. We understood this stance of the GoSL as one bent on
stopping us from attending the next Geneva talks.
It is at this time, the Head of SLMM met us and proposed a travel arrangement
and requested us to accept it as a temporary measure. He proposed that he will
arrange a civilian vessel for the transport of our commanders accompanied by the
SLMM, including himself, and there will be no involvement or interference from
the Sri Lankan Navy. Our leadership accepted this as a temporary arrangement in
view of the importance of the upcoming Geneva talks. We prepared for the sea
journey of our commanders fully trusting the words of the Head of SLMM.
Unfortunately, because the Sri Lankan Navy conducted itself in a manner that
threatened the safety of our commanders, and because events took place that were
against the promises made by the Head of the SLMM, the central committee meeting
of our leadership could not take place. We have already explained to you that we
cannot attend the Geneva talks without meeting our eastern commanders and take
some firm decisions.
We condemn the actions of GoSL for disturbing the travel of our commanders and
at the same time we express our regret for this situation. We are saddened that,
by blocking our air travel and by disturbing our sea travel arranged by SLMM, we
are placed in the difficult situation where we are unable to attend the Geneva
talks. We therefore, hereby wish to inform you with sadness that until the
hurdles in front of us to attend Geneva talks are removed and a more conducive
environment created, our Geneva team is unable to come to the Geneva talks.
For future efforts, I am sure you would understand the importance of pressuring
the GoSL, to implement the CFA in letter and spirit, to implement in particular
what was agreed upon at the Geneva talks, and to prevent it from altering the
practices already put in place. It is only through these measures the conducive
environment for future peace talks will be created.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
S.P.Tamilselvan
Head of the Political Wing
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