Recent views expressed by special envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer reveals that wisdom has dawned on him rather belatedly. Yes, he has now observed that the decision taken by the European Union last May to ban LTTE has paved way for the deterioration of the present situation.

We had repeatedly pointed out in our column that both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE had signed the Ceasefire Agreement on the basis that they were equal partners and that any decision by the European Union to ban the LTTE would affect their equal status and cripple the efficacy of the Ceasefire Agreement.

We have also pointed out that although the LTTE had no faith in the Sri Lankan Government, it entered into negotiations trusting the international community and that the ban on the LTTE was bound to paralyse the peace efforts.

We further pointed out that if the EU thought that they could tame the LTTE by the threat of a ban, then they were mistaken.

Now this is the reality. The special envoy openly admits that the EU ban has damaged the chances for the resumption of talks. It is unfortunate that the special envoy had not expressed this view to the EU prior to the ban. It is the concern of the Tamils that the special envoy has failed in his duty by not offering appropriate advice at the appropriate time and to the appropriate people.

A pity, wisdom has dawned on him belatedly.

An English translation of the editorial in Uthayan, Tamil daily, based in Jaffna

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