The general impression is that the Geneva Peace Talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE failed without any progress and without fruitful results. This is also the view of the international community.

But, both parties that took part at the talks claim that it was a success from their own points of view. While accepting that they could not achieve what they wanted, they blamed one another and made allegations against each other.

Immediately after returning to Sri Lanka, Minister Nimal Sripala de Silva, the Leader of the government delegation, told the Colombo media that the talks were a success for them. On the other hand, S.P.Thamilselvan, LTTE Political Wing Leader, who led the LTTE delegation at the Talks claimed that the Talks were a success.

Addressing a press briefing at Kilinochi, Thamilselvan stated that they had exposed the government to the international community that it was refusing to solve the human sufferings of the Tamil people and that it’s more concerned about military offensive in the North-East. There is truth in that statement.

We feel that the international pressure is light on Sri Lanka for it is a government sector and that it is heavy on the LTTE for it is a non-government sector. The LTTE feels that the international community having witnessed the government’s conduct will exert more pressure on the government from now on.

The insistence of the LTTE on solving the humanitarian crisis in the peninsula was in conformity with the view of the international community.

Likewise the demand of the LTTE at the Talks to re-open the A9 highway as provided for in the Ceasefire Agreement was also in agreement with the appeal by the international community that the CFA must be implemented fully.

Even the assurance of the LTTE that they would guarantee the functioning of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission also satisfied the expectations of the international community.

The LTTE took the government delegation by surprise when they readily agreed to request of the government to discuss political issues and this position taken up the LTTE delegation at the negotiating table impressed the international community.

Besides their readiness to discuss the political issues, they challenged the government to present a political solution forthwith for them to deliberate. That was also a big surprise to the government while it exposed the government to the world. Thereafter, the government delegation had to request the LTTE hold on until they reach a consensus with the other political parties in the south and arrive at a solution.

While the government delivered a sermon on democracy, LTTE responded that the Sinhala government denied the Tamil people their basic democratic rights and oppressed the Tamil people in the name of democracy and advised the government to give up its anti-democratic acts and set an example, so that the Tamil people can respond in the same sprit of democracy.

A review of the Geneva Talks in this right perspective reveals that there is credence in Thamilselvan’s assertions!

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

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