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British High Commission team meets with LTTE Political Head

Ms Craig expressed her appreciation for the solidarity between Norway and the LTTE in the peace process. She encouraged dialogue between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and affirmed that the British High Commission would offer support in this endeavor. Ms Craig also was keen to understand the ground situation of the Tamil people in the NorthEast.

Tamilselvan explained that the LTTE is never hesitant to engage in dialogue with the GoSL. In order for this to take place, he stated that a positive atmosphere and state of normalcy, as agreed upon by the GoSL must be implemented by the GoSL. He further explained that the Tamil people must be given what they have been promised before their leaders engage in dialogue. He urged that the violence by the GoSL’s armed forces against the Tamil people in the NorthEast must be stopped immediately.

Efforts that were being taken toward a more positive status of peace process were recently damaged due to the unwarranted air strikes carried out by the GoSL on 26 and 27 July, Tamilselvan stated. He said that the air strikes, during the time of a ceasefire, is viewed by the Tamil people as a declaration of war.

In discussing the listing of the LTTE by the EU, Tamilselvan stated that this decision had an adverse impact on the peace process, in that the Sinhala extremist elements of the South and the GoSL took this as an endorsement of their strategy of denial of rights and violence carried out against the Tamil people.

Tamilselvan also discussed the issue of EU countries comprising the SLMM, and stated that the LTTE maintains its stance that those Nordic countries, selected as neutral bodies in monitoring the ceasefire can no longer operate with impartiality, as the listing of the LTTE has stigmatized the LTTE and the Tamil people.

The LTTE delegation consisted of Chief of Police S Nadesan, Secretary General of LTTE Peace Secretariat S Puleedevan and B Selvy, Deputy Director of LTTE Peace Secretariat.

28 July 2006

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