05-26-2004, 10:55 PM
Tamil rebels reject Sri Lankan government proposal for peace talks
Associated Press, Wed May 26, 2004 08:51 EDT . SHIMALI SENANAYAKE - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Tamil Tiger rebels said Wednesday that peace talks to end Sri Lanka - 's 19-year civil war could begin only after the government discusses their demands for self-rule in the north and east.
The announcement came after Tiger political leader S.P. Thamilselvan met with Norway's top peace-broker Erik Solheim to discuss the government's proposed agenda for peace talks.
The government plan suggested the two sides could discuss the Tigers' proposal for autonomy while simultaneously negotiating an end to the conflict.
But a rebel statement said talks on self-rule ``should take place first and the discussion on the core issues can be followed later.''
The announcement was a setback to the country's efforts to revive peace talks aimed at ending the separatist war, which began in 1983 and killed 65,000 people before a cease-fire halted fighting two years ago.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga's hardline party has previously rejected the rebels' plan for autonomy, calling it a stepping stone to a separate state.
Norway has been battling to bridge widening divisions between the government and the rebels to finalize arrangements to resume peace talks. This is Solheim's second visit in two weeks.
The rebels withdrew from peace talks in April 2003 over demands for more autonomy in the regions they control. Despite the deadlock, a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire between the rebels and government in February 2002 has largely held firm.
The Tamil Tigers had initially demanded a separate state for minority Tamils, but agreed during previous negotiations to accept regional autonomy instead.
Associated Press, Wed May 26, 2004 08:51 EDT . SHIMALI SENANAYAKE - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Tamil Tiger rebels said Wednesday that peace talks to end Sri Lanka - 's 19-year civil war could begin only after the government discusses their demands for self-rule in the north and east.
The announcement came after Tiger political leader S.P. Thamilselvan met with Norway's top peace-broker Erik Solheim to discuss the government's proposed agenda for peace talks.
The government plan suggested the two sides could discuss the Tigers' proposal for autonomy while simultaneously negotiating an end to the conflict.
But a rebel statement said talks on self-rule ``should take place first and the discussion on the core issues can be followed later.''
The announcement was a setback to the country's efforts to revive peace talks aimed at ending the separatist war, which began in 1983 and killed 65,000 people before a cease-fire halted fighting two years ago.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga's hardline party has previously rejected the rebels' plan for autonomy, calling it a stepping stone to a separate state.
Norway has been battling to bridge widening divisions between the government and the rebels to finalize arrangements to resume peace talks. This is Solheim's second visit in two weeks.
The rebels withdrew from peace talks in April 2003 over demands for more autonomy in the regions they control. Despite the deadlock, a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire between the rebels and government in February 2002 has largely held firm.
The Tamil Tigers had initially demanded a separate state for minority Tamils, but agreed during previous negotiations to accept regional autonomy instead.
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