Tamils - a Trans State Nation..

"To us all towns are one, all men our kin.
Life's good comes not from others' gift, nor ill
Man's pains and pains' relief are from within.
Thus have we seen in visions of the wise !."
-
Tamil Poem in Purananuru, circa 500 B.C 

Home Whats New  Trans State Nation  One World Unfolding Consciousness Comments Search

Home > Struggle for Tamil Eelam > Conflict Resolution: Tamil Eelam - Sri Lanka  > Tracking the Norwegian Conflict Resolution Initiative > Early Beginnings...: 1996 - 1999  > LTTE's Military Victories & the International Response : 1999 - 2000 > LTTE's Unilateral Ceasefires: 2000 - 2001 > Sri Lanka Army suffers further major debacles: 2001 - 2002 > Ceasefire Agreement & Lifting of Ban on LTTE: 2002 > First Session of Peace Talks in Thailand & Aftermath: 2002 > Second Session of Peace Talks in Thailand & Aftermath: 2002 > Oslo Peace Support Meeting:2002 > Third Session of Peace Talks in Oslo & Aftermath: 2002 - 2003 > Fourth Session of Peace Talks in Thailand & Aftermath: 2003 > Fifth Session of Peace Talks in Germany & Aftermath: 2004 > Sixth Session of Talks in Japan & Aftermath: 2003 > LTTE Suspends Negotiations: 2003 > Interim Self Governing Authority & Aftermath: 2003 - 2004 > Tsunami & Aftermath: 2005 > After 2005 Presidential Elections: 2005 - 2006 > Geneva Talks & Aftermath: 2006 - 2007> Ceasefire Agreement Buried:2006 - 2008

CONFLICT RESOLUTION: TAMIL EELAM - SRI LANKA
Tracking the Norwegian Conflict Resolution Initiative

Ceasefire Agreement Buried: 2006 - 2008
29 November 2006 Norway to take no more peace initiatives in Sri Lanka

Norwegian special envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will visit Sri Lanka this week, but Oslo has decided not to take any more peace initiatives following a virtual state of war in the island nation. Hanssen-Bauer will be in Colombo shortly after President Mahinda Rajapaksa returns from New Delhi and shall also travel to the northern town of Kilinochchi to meet leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Informed sources told the agency that the visit was to tell the two protagonists that while Norway would remain in touch with them directly and indirectly, it has no further intention of launching any peace move unless they genuinely decide to shake hands. "Colombo and LTTE are not ready for any peace process," the source said dismissively, reflecting the deepening despondency in the international community overseeing Sri Lanka.

3 December 2006 Ceasefire Agreement Buried
14 January 2007 European double game to 'tame' Sri Lanka says State controlled Sri Lanka Sunday Observer
28 January 2007 International Community's flawed approach assists Colombo- Thamilchelvan
2 February 2007 Norwegian peace initiative was fated to fail – Professor Galtung

"The idea of making peace in the middle and let it spread to the wings of the spectrum makes sense in Norwegian domestic politics, maybe excluding only five to 10%. If you exclude more than 50%, the failure is imminent. The process did not die, it was still born.

But I would like to add a point: Please don’t see this as something particularly Norwegian. The focus on two parties trying to make a deal is a part of an unfortunate diplomatic tradition. The desire to broker a deal is so high, for all kinds of reasons, that third parties are easily blackmailed: "If you invite those people forget about any facilitation."

Do not always go for the top people. Try it out at lower levels. Grassroots people are often much more reasonable. The leaders may be leaders precisely because they have very strong views. But they may also change them to keep the leadership position, being unpredictable. Let 1000 local dialogues among people blossom, listen carefully for ideas, let the GNIP—Gross National Idea Product—grow.

This is what happened in Northern Ireland with the help of women and clergy from both sides. The "silent majority", 85% unnoticed by explosion-hungry media, was mobilized. But they also had important political talents on the Sinn Fein side. Something is personality. And something in Sri Lanka is politicking, not politics...

Yes, there is talk about a winnable war—like from the South African and the Israeli apartheid government. That approach did not succeed in the former, nor will it in the latter. In Sri Lanka, both parties have soldiers in uniform pitted against each other in war. The Government of Sri Lanka has, in addition, state terrorism, bombing, killing civilians and the LTTE has terrorism. The LTTE also has a guerilla capacity. It looks to me as if both have the capacity to deny the other victory.

But imagine it happens: Killinochchi is flattened, Mr P is dead, LTTE dissolved. Will the Tamil dream of a Tamil Eelam die? Of course not. It will be revived, and new cycles of violence will occur. And probably new CFAs. And possibly the same mistake, confusing ceasefire with peace, using it as a sleeping pillow to do nothing.." more

9 February 2007 Peace pact with LTTE was a mistake: President Rajapakse
15 February 2007 Britain offers to talk with Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers
22 February 2007 5th Anniversary of Ceasefire Agreement

Statement by LTTE 22 February 2007
Statement by Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, 22 February 2007
Jathika Hela Urumaya "Ceasefire Agreement Already Dead" 22 February 2007
Buddhist Monks demand end of ceasefire with LTTE, 22 February 2007

24 February 2007 TNA appeals to international community to back Tamil self-determination

Sri Lanka’s ongoing military campaign leaves Tamils with no option but to seek self-determination and self-rule, the country’s largest Tamil party said Friday. In a statement to mark the fifth anniversary of the Ceasefire Agreement between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called on the international community to recognise the Tamil struggle pointing out that in the past five years, “the Sri Lankan government has utterly failed to alleviate the sufferings of the Tamil people. Neither has it contributed meaningfully to a lasting solution to the national conflict.”

27 February 2007 Sri Lanka's Endangered Peace Process and the Way Forward - Centre for Just Peace and Democracy (CJPD)
6 March 2007 Appeal Court dismisses petitions challenging CFA
13 March 2007 Struggle will continue until CFA is annulled - JVP
28 March 2007 Sri Lanka's Double Talk - But Single Policy
12 June 2007 Sri Lanka accuses 'bullying' West
13 June 2007 Sri Lanka’s stalemated conflict - Sumantra Bose
2 July 2007 Sri Lanka asks Norway to revive peace bid
2 January 2008 Sri Lanka Annuls Peace Agreement
15 January 2008 Sri Lanka ceasefire formally ends

The ceasefire between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tigers formally comes to an end on Wednesday. (16 January 2008). The government gave notice two weeks ago it was pulling out of the agreement which was brokered by Norway in 2002. Fighting has been going on in the north and east of the island for around two years despite the truce. Tamil Tiger rebels said on Thursday they were "shocked and disappointed" that the ceasefire was ending, but pledged fully to defend themselves.

2008

Tamil Freedom Struggle - CFA SAGA - a Summary  (Word Format)

18 July 2009 Ceasefire Agreement marked the end of the LTTE  - Central Provincial Council Opposition Leader S. B. Dissanayake

 

Mail Us Copyright 1998/2009 All Rights Reserved Home