Colombo, Sri Lanka: The violence that emerged with the murder of Wigneswaran, the President of the Trincomalee People’s Front, takes place in both the army controlled and government controlled areas. Recently, commuters on a bus at Keppitagollawa have been killed consequent to a claymore attack.

This attack has perturbed everybody in the country. This is the first attack of violence of such magnitude since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in February 2002. As usual the government has accused the LTTE for this cruel attack, while the LTTE has denied any involvement.

In a statement issued by the LTTE, it is stated that the attack has been launched to time with the return of the LTTE delegation from Europe, deliberately to blame the LTTE and bring it disrepute internationally.

Having accused the LTTE for the incident of violence at Keppitogollawa, the government has launched air strikes, a clear violation of the CFA making the present crisis worse. Last Geneva talks were held to ensure peace and avert war. Had the decisions arrived at these talks been implemented, then there would not have been any need for the Oslo talks and violence could have been averted and lives of innocent civilians could have been saved. Looking at the trend of violence all over the country, one gets the impression that the country is plunged into a war situation.

Last November, President Rajapakse having won the Presidential polls with the support of the hard liners in the South, appointed persons not committed to peace through negotiations, to important posts and thereby paved the way for the present crisis and the country is now plunged into a war situation.

The escalation of violence and the resultant fleeing of Tamils in the North-East to India and to the LTTE controlled areas are disturbing features which should be addressed by the government.

The opportunities for talks between the LTTE and the government and thereby to resume peace have not been lost as yet. There is still hope!

An English translation of the Editorial in Sudar Oli, a tamil national Daily, based in Colombo

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