06-06-2004, 03:32 PM
Sri Lankan rebels order Parliamentary proxies to press for wide autonomy
Associated Press, Sat June 5, 2004 10:06 EDT . - - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's Tamil Tigers on Saturday ordered their proxies in Parliament to pressure the government to accept a rebel blueprint for greater autonomy as the basis for peace talks aimed at ending a two-decade civil war. After initial optimism, Sri Lanka - 's peace moves have stumbled over the Tigers' insistence that their blueprint for autonomy be the sole basis for negotiations.
Norwegian peace brokers trying to bring the government and rebels back to the negotiating table left the country empty-handed last month after both sides failed to agree on the agenda.
The Tigers have fought the government since 1983 to create a separate state for minority Tamils accusing majority Sinhalese of discrimination.
About 65,000 people were killed in the conflict before a Norway-brokered cease-fire halted the violence in February 2002.
Peace talks were suspended in April 2003 after the rebels insisted on wide autonomy. The truce has largely held despite the deadlock.
Associated Press, Sat June 5, 2004 10:06 EDT . - - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's Tamil Tigers on Saturday ordered their proxies in Parliament to pressure the government to accept a rebel blueprint for greater autonomy as the basis for peace talks aimed at ending a two-decade civil war. After initial optimism, Sri Lanka - 's peace moves have stumbled over the Tigers' insistence that their blueprint for autonomy be the sole basis for negotiations.
Norwegian peace brokers trying to bring the government and rebels back to the negotiating table left the country empty-handed last month after both sides failed to agree on the agenda.
The Tigers have fought the government since 1983 to create a separate state for minority Tamils accusing majority Sinhalese of discrimination.
About 65,000 people were killed in the conflict before a Norway-brokered cease-fire halted the violence in February 2002.
Peace talks were suspended in April 2003 after the rebels insisted on wide autonomy. The truce has largely held despite the deadlock.
<span style='font-size:20pt;line-height:100%'>Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.</span>