In its response to the stern statement by the co-chair countries last Tuesday, the government has indicated that co-chair countries should take note of the fact that the peace talks are between a sovereign country and a terrorist outfit. In fact this has been a controversy between the government and the LTTE throughout.

The LTTE has been very firm that it should be an equal partner in any talks. They categorically pointed out this during the peace efforts by both President Chandrika and Premier Ranil.

It was as a result of this resolute stand by the LTTE for the recognition of equal status in any talks that the Ranil Government lifted the ban on the LTTE. The government of Ranil Wicremasinghe recognized the LTTE as a legitimate representative of the Tamil people and as an equal partner in the peace talks.

Again, on November 25th 2002, the government of Ranil recognized this principle at the talks in Oslo for the economic rebuilding of the country. The government representatives led by Ranil Wicremasighe and the LTTE delegates led by its Ideologue Anton Balasingam took part in the deliberations as equals at this meeting.

It was on this basis of equal status that the LTTE agreed to the composition of Kiran for humanitarian and rehabilitation efforts in the North-East.

It was because the government of Ranil Wicremasinghe denied this status by holding the preliminary meetings of the co-chair countries on April 14th and 15th 2003 in America that the LTTE withdrew from the peace talks.

Therefore it is obvious that the LTTE has taken up a resolute stand through out on this question of equal status at any talks.

We cautioned in this column earlier that a ban on the LTTE could seriously prejudice the question of equal status for the LTTE at any talks and that such moves could derail the peace process. Now, all parties interested in the peace process expressed the view the ban has caused serious damage to the peace efforts.

The government of President Rajapakse has taken up this question of equal status on the basis that LTTE is a banned organization. But co-chair countries have insisted that the six rounds of talks held earlier should be the basis of any future negotiations. Therefore, it is obvious that these co-chair countries have recognized the principle of equal status.

Peace will be a mirage if the government denies equal status to the LTTE.

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

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