PEACE TALKS
By Dukhinda Jayawardena
For the past several years, delegations from the GOSL
and the LTTE, have been travelling abroad to discuss ways and means
to agree on a peaceful solution to the fighting in Sri Lanka. So far
there is no evidence that any concrete agreement or indeed even a
solution has been found towards peace. Both parties are spending large
amounts of valuable Foreign Exchange, knowing before hand that there
will not be any progress in these talks.
The delegation from the GOSL includes several members and a retinue
of supporting staff in the group. The delegates have absolutely no
military experience or logistical knowledge. They do not seem to have
any indept knowledge of the history of Sri Lanka or the Constitution.
They are there simply because they seem to know someone in the right
place. These delegates have no powers to decide anything at these
Talks, they have to get permission from the Govt of Sri Lanka before
they can agree on anything. The GOSL has to bear a large expense of
foreign exchange for, Air travel, Hotel accomodations, other travel
arrangements, Travel insurance and Medical Insurance schemes, incidental
expenses, Foreign travel subsidies for the members of the delegation
and the supporting staff, commucation back and forth etc. From previous
experiences we are aware of Members accompanied by the spouse and
children too which has been paid by the Government. It is akin to
a paid holiday and a shopping spree. So there is a great deal of enthusiasm
for these failed talks to be held as often as possible by the Sri
Lankan delegations. .
On the other hand, the LTTE delegation consists of hardcore military
trained experts, shrewd tacticians who are the leaders of the LTTE.
They can decide and come to conclusions on the spot. They do not have
any problems with Foreign Exchange, their money is there in any country
in the world. They do not travel with their spouses and children shopping
for luxury items to adorn themselves. They come abroad to purchase
sophisticated military hardware and to give confidential instructions
to their members abroad. The LTTE's main problem is that the leaders
have no way of travelling abroad as and when they wish. The only way
is to tell the GOSL through Norway that they would like to have Peace
Talks. Norway in turn pressurises the GOSL to hold talks. The GOSL
then is forced to agree to talks which they are not properly prepared
for and also forced to send a SLAF Helicopter with the Norwegian to
Wanni to transport the LTTE delegates to Katunayake airport.
When everyone met in Geneva the LTTE delegation demanded that they
will hold talks only after the GOSL agreed to open the A9 road. The
GOSL refused to accede to this demand and the Talks broke down. As
far as the GOSL is concerned both delegations were returning back
and will have to wait for the next session to be arranged by the Norwegians
which will be only when the LTTE decides.
But the LTTE's agend was completed, their leaders came out of Wanni,
met with the right persons in Geneva, gave all the instructions, checked
their foreign bank balances, paid up for the weapons they required
and are returning to Sri Lanka where the GOSL has kept a SLAF helicopter
to ferry them back to Wanni.
Norway and the LTTE have been treating the GOSL as a donkey. It is
disgraceful that the President and the cabinet of Sri Lanka has still
not learned anything from past experiences. I only hope this time
at least they will have the backbone to stand up to the the Norwegians
and the LTTE..
