09-01-2003, 12:37 AM
Sri Lankan rebels draft proposal aimed at breaking deadlock in peace talks
Associated Press, Sun August 31, 2003 04:53 EDT . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's Tamil Tiger rebels have drafted a counterproposal for a power-sharing deal with the government in an attempt to restart stalled peace talks, officials and a news report said Sunday. The adviser, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, said the proposal will be reviewed in Sri Lanka - by Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. He did not reveal details of the document.
The rebel proposal will likely demand more political power than the government has offered, an official involved in the peace process said on condition of anonymity.
The Tigers have rejected two sets of government proposals.
The Tigers' latest proposal drafted with help from Tamils living in Britain, Australia and Singapore is seen as a signal of their willingness to resume negotiations stalled since April.
The rebels abandoned the peace talks after accusing the government of not doing enough to rebuild war-ravaged territories and resettle hundreds of thousands of Tamils displaced during the country's 19-year civil war.
Nearly 65,000 people died in the Tigers' fight for a separate Tamil homeland before a Norway-brokered cease-fire was signed in February 2002. The majority of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese.
Both the Sri Lankan government and the rebels say they're confident talks can resume next month.
(AP) Sri Lanka
Associated Press, Sun August 31, 2003 04:53 EDT . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's Tamil Tiger rebels have drafted a counterproposal for a power-sharing deal with the government in an attempt to restart stalled peace talks, officials and a news report said Sunday. The adviser, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, said the proposal will be reviewed in Sri Lanka - by Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. He did not reveal details of the document.
The rebel proposal will likely demand more political power than the government has offered, an official involved in the peace process said on condition of anonymity.
The Tigers have rejected two sets of government proposals.
The Tigers' latest proposal drafted with help from Tamils living in Britain, Australia and Singapore is seen as a signal of their willingness to resume negotiations stalled since April.
The rebels abandoned the peace talks after accusing the government of not doing enough to rebuild war-ravaged territories and resettle hundreds of thousands of Tamils displaced during the country's 19-year civil war.
Nearly 65,000 people died in the Tigers' fight for a separate Tamil homeland before a Norway-brokered cease-fire was signed in February 2002. The majority of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese.
Both the Sri Lankan government and the rebels say they're confident talks can resume next month.
(AP) Sri Lanka
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