CLOMBO, Dec. 27, Reuters: The Sri Lankan government, today, held direct talks with Tamil guerrillas in an attempt to end a three-year separatist war.
A government spokesman told Reuters that Vincent Perera, a member of Parliament, headed a delegation that met leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Jaffna Peninsula, a rebel stronghold. Military sources in Jaffna, 320 km (200 miles) north c* here, said Pedera’s group held talks with Krishna Kumar, Alias Kittu, the LTTE commander in the area, and
his deputy Kanagaratnam, Alias Raheem. “We are hopeful that this is the start of a genuine dialogue with the rebels”, the spokesman said.
“He (Perera) has the blessing of the government but he has no Official status. His mission is to sound out the rebels on what they want, what their conditions are to start a fresh dialogue”, he said. He said, “If his talks give rise to some kind of a reply on which the government is prepared to negotiate, that is if they agree on the structure of devolution put forward by the state, then the government will start negotiations with them.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 2, 1987
Article extracted from this publication >>
