SRI LANKA: Tamil Tigers demand 'substantial autonomy'

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said on September 18 that
they are seeking “substantial autonomy and self-government in the Tamil
homeland and expressed optimism that a solution to

Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict could be worked out by negotiation”.

Addressing a press conference in Sittahip, Thailand, after the first
round of Norwegian-facilitated face-to-face talks with the Sri Lankan government,
the chief negotiator for the LTTE, Anton Balasingham, said the LTTE would
only seek an independent state “as a last resort” if the Tamil demand for
“regional autonomy is rejected and conditions of oppression continue”.

Responding to reporters' questions as to whether the LTTE had given
up fighting for a separate state, Balasingham said: “The LTTE doesn't operate
with the concept of a separate state. We operate with the concept of a
homeland and self-determination.

“Homeland doesn't mean a separate state as such. It refers to a territory
where the Tamil-speaking people live”, he pointed out.

“When we use the category or concept of self-determination, we mean
that the concept entails substantial autonomy or self-government in our
homeland or in the historical areas where we live. And [we feel] that solutions
can be worked out if both the parties agree to a particular political system
or model.

“But, if our demand for regional autonomy and self-government is rejected
and if conditions of oppression continue, as a last resort our people have
no option other than to fight for political independence and statehood.

“That will be the last resort under the principle of self-determination.

“[Therefore] saying that the LTTE is fighting for an independent state
has no relevance because we operate with different categories and concepts.”

Asked by a correspondent if Balasingham's comments gave him hope of
resolving the ethnic conflict, chief negotiator for the Sri Lankan government,
G. L. Peiris said: “Definitely. We know that [separation] is not their
[Tigers'] objective. They have stated it categorically on this occasion:
a separate state is not what their aspirations are about. Their aspirations
can be fulfilled within one country if we set about it in the proper way.”

Responding to a question as to whether the disarming of the LTTE was
discussed at the three-day talks, Balasingham said: “There is no question
of disarmament at this early stage of the discussion. You know very well
both parties — the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE — have two standing
armies and two navies and this is the first time a stable cease-fire has
been established. The question of disarming and decommissioning the LTTE
will not arise until we reach a permanent settlement that will satisfy
the aspirations of Tamil people.”

Balasingham's views were echoed later by Peiris who said: “At the beginning
of a negotiating process you don't ask about disarmament. You have to achieve
some progress with regard to substantive issues [first] and decommissioning
of weapons or demilitarisation would come [at] a later stage. That is how
any realistic, pragmatic negotiation process would be handled.”

[From TamilNet, <http://www.tamilnet.com>.]

From Green Left Weekly, September 25, 2002.

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From GLW issue 510