Australian Foreign Ministry
to the Swiss Federation of Tamil
Associations
6 October 1995
Mr.P.Anton
President
Swiss Federation of Tamil Associations
c/o Vanakkam Postfach 7908
6000 Luzern 7 Switzerland
Dear Mr. Anton,
Thank you for your letter dated 23 August 1995 addressed to Senator Evans concerning
the political situation in Sri Lanka. Senator Evans has asked me to reply on his behalf,
and I apologise for the delay in responding.
Senator Evans met representatives of the Australian Tamil community in Melbourne on 12
September 1995. The Tamil community's concerns were discussed in detail, and the
Australian Government's position was outlined on a range of issues.
The Australian Government expressed strong disappointment at the unilateral decision of
the liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to withdrawal the peace talks and resume armed
conflict. The LTTE's justification for ending the
Cessation of Hostilities on 19 April, which had been in force since January and had seen
significant progress towards easing tensions, was not convincing and served to cast
considerable doubt on the sincerity of the LTTE's stated desire for a peaceful settlement
to the ethnic conflict. The ending of the peace process did nothing to resolve
understandable complaints from the Tamil side about the pace of talks, the level of
dialogue, and delays in the lifting of fishing restrictions and the supply of fuel and
other commodities to Jaffna. Those issues
should have been pursued through continuing dialogue, not by abandoning it. The LTTE's
actions have set back the cause of peace and disappointed not only the international
community but also the hopes of many ordinary Sri Lankans.
The Australian Government firmly believes that a
negotiated settlement requiring patience and compromise on both sides is ultimately
the only logical course to achieving a durable solution to the conflict. Neither side in
this conflict will benefit from an escalation of hostilities. The Australian Government
has never endorsed a military solution to the conflict, but equally it is not reasonable
to expect the Sri Lanka Government to acquiesce in the face of renewed hostilities by the
LTTE.
The Australian Government hopes that the Sri Lankan
Government will exercise restraint in any military response it pursues and has urged
both the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE to take the utmost care to avoid civilian
casualties. In this regard, the Australian Government expressed concern to the Sri Lankan
Government over particularly tragic incidents where non combatant Tamil civilians have
been killed in military exchanges, including the bombing
of St.Peter's Church in Navaly and the reported
deaths of 44 school children when a school was allegedly bombed at the village of
Nagarkovil on 22 September.
The Australian Government has consistently supported a negotiated political settlement
while continuing to recognise the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and the legitimacy of
the elected Government. Australia welcomed the announcement on 3 August by President
Kumaratunga of radical and wide ranging new proposals for
constitutional reforms, which would devolve significant powers from the central government
to regional administrations. The proposals address underlying causes of ethnic
conflict and aspirations of the Tamil population. President Kumaratunga's announcement
acknowledged that the Tamil people have legitimate grievances for which a solution must be
found, and rejected the idea that military action alone could provide a lasting solution
to the ethnic conflict.
The Australian Government hopes that the proposals will be seriously considered by all
the people of Sri Lanka as the basis for a durable settlement to the conflict.
Australia is prepared to consider assisting a genuine peace process in any way that
would be useful and acceptable to both sides, however, following recent discussions
between Senator Evans and the Sri Lankan Government, there appears to be no obvious role
for third party involvement at present.
Yours sincerely,
John Oliver
Acting First Assistant Secretary
South and South East Asia Division,
Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia
