Solheim arrival sparks hope

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JAN. 10. The Norwegian special envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, arrived here today amidst expectations that he would present fresh confidence- building proposals to bridge the gap of mistrust between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE and breathe life back into the peace process.

Mr. Solheim, who is here on a four-day visit, is expected to meet the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, other Government leaders and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ranil Wickremetunge.

In keeping with the practice of briefing the Indian Government at every stage of the process, among Mr. Solheim's first engagements was a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Gopal Gandhi.

The Norwegians seem undaunted by the rhetoric that has flown freely in the last few days and that seems to be taking the two sides further away from each other.

Earlier this week, Ms. Kumaratunga said the LTTE was not interested in peace and in a speech reminiscent of the 1999 presidential campaign, spoke of a nexus between the Tigers and the Opposition United National Party (UNP) to tarnish the image of the Government. She described the LTTE as an undemocratic organisation that killed the people it claimed to represent. The tenor of the speech held no clue that this was a Government preparing for negotiations.

In addition, the Government denied there were economic embargoes on the embattled north and rejected the LTTE's claim of civilian misery due to shortage of food and medicine in areas controlled by it. It demanded the ``normalisation'' of life in the Vanni as a pre-condition to the talks. But the State Information Department said on Tuesday that the Government was sending not only essential items such as food and medicine but also ``luxury items'' to areas in the north controlled by the Army and the Tigers alike.

A communique listed the quantity of dry rations despatched to the north last year. It said that in addition to the separate allocation for displaced families, LTTE-occupied areas in Vavuniya district were also supplied by private traders.

The only restrictions were on explosives, ammunition and other related items, the communique stated.

The Government had earlier ruled out a ceasefire. With its reiteration that there could be no shortages of essentials in the Vanni, it seems to have rejected the other pre-condition set by the LTTE for talks, namely creating conditions of ``normality'' in the Vanni.

It is believed that the Norwegians have brought with them a set of new proposals to break the impasse. With two weeks to go for the LTTE's unilateral ceasefire to end, it seems the Government may have to make some concessions to keep the Tigers engaged in the peace process.

There is growing apprehension in the pro-talks lobby that if the Government does nothing by January 24 when the ceasefire is due to end, a spurned LTTE may revert back to violence with a vengeance.

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Section  : International
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