Peace process not dead yet: Solheim

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, APRIL 30.The Norwegian special envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, arrived in Sri Lanka today amidst speculation over the fate of the peace process after the heaviest fighting in seven months in the Jaffna peninsula left at least 300 combatants dead and hundreds more wounded last week.

Mr. Solheim, who has been trying to facilitate talks between the Government and the LTTE, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the fighting was a `definite set-back', but that the peace process was not dead yet.

Official sources said Mr. Solheim's mission was to persuade the Sri Lankan Government not to indulge in any more military adventures in the Jaffna peninsula as that would only vitiate an atmosphere charged with mistrust between the two sides.

Mr. Solheim was expected to hold discussions with the President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, this evening. He will also meet the leader of the main opposition United National Party, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe.

New Delhi's expression of concern on the escalation of hostilities and a call to both sides to begin talks early, a departure from its usual reticence on the conflict in Sri Lanka, are expected to strengthen Mr. Solheim's hands .

He and the Norwegian ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Jon Westborg, called on the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Gopal Gandhi, this afternoon.

Mainstream Tamil parties that have been accusing India of turning a blind eye to the developments on the island, welcomed New Delhi's stand but said it was `insufficient'.

``India must intervene now and tell the Government that they cannot go on like this. They must bring more pressure on Sri Lanka to call a ceasefire and start talks,'' said Mr. V. Anandasangaree, parliamentarian and vice-president of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF).

Reiterating this view, Mr. N. Srikantha of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) said ``India should, at least now, do what it can both politically and diplomatically to contribute positively and effectively to bring both parties to the military conflict to the negotiating table.''

Meanwhile, the body count from the battle continued without respite. The toll on the Government side went up to 213 soldiers, while the LTTE has so far admitted to losing 75 cadres.

The LTTE returned bodies of eight more soldiers through the International Committee of the Red Cross today taking the total number of bodies returned by them to 64, while the Army returned bodies of 10 LTTE cadres.

Despite the intensity of the fighting, it is hoped that Mr. Solheim will be able to revive the process that he has guided for the last year. Both sides have reiterated their commitment to it, the Government as recently as Saturday, and the LTTE last week, while announcing its decision not to extend a unilateral ceasefire.

While the decision not to extend the ceasefire may not have been a major setback in itself, clearing the way as it did of a suspiciously regarded unilateral gesture, the Government's decision thereafter to blink first is being viewed as particularly confrontational.

Official sources said Norway's first priority now was to bring down the level of hostilities before it spun out of control amid fears that buoyed by its victory, the LTTE may now go on an offensive.

The finalisation of the other confidence-building measures for the commencement of talks contained in a draft agreement drawn up by the Norwegians was a `non-problem' as there was virtually no disagreement between the two sides on the agreement, the sources added.

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Section  : International
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