DATE=11/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241748
TITLE=LANKA / TALKS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT IS READY FOR CONDITIONAL TALKS
WITH TAMIL TIGER REBELS. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS THE DETAILS FROM
COLOMBO.
TEXT: THE STATE OWNED NEWSPAPER, SUNDAY OBSERVER, QUOTED
PRESIDENT CHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA AS TELLING LEADERS OF A MODERATE
TAMIL PARTY, THAT HER GOVERNMENT WAS NOT AGAINST A NEGOTIATED
SETTLEMENT TO END THE ETHNIC WAR.
PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA SAID THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT RUSH INTO
TALKS WITH THE TIGER REBELS BUT WAS PREPARED TO TALK TO THEM
WITHIN A STIPULATED TIME-FRAME AND THEN DECIDE ON THE CEASEFIRE
DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS.
THE NEWSPAPER SAID THE GOVERNMENT, WHILE NOT AGAINST A NEGOTIATED
SETTLEMENT TO END THE WAR, WAS CAUTIOUS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE
PAST INITIATIVES.
THE GOVERNMENT LAST INITIATED TALKS WITH THE REBEL TIGER GROUP
AFTER COMING INTO POWER IN 1994. BUT THE TALKS BROKE DOWN AFTER
REBELS BLEW UP TWO NAVAL BOATS IN THE EASTERN PORT CITY OF
TRINCOMALEE IN 1995.
THE REBEL GROUP HAD CLAIMED THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SERIOUS
ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS.
IN JANUARY 1998, THE GOVERNMENT BANNED THE REBEL TIGER GROUP
AFTER AN ATTACK ON THE COUNTRY'S HOLIEST BUDDHIST SHRINE IN THE
CENTRAL HILL TOWN OF KANDY.
ANALYSTS SAY SINCE THEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS CLOSED ALL DOORS FOR A
PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT TO THE ETHNIC PROBLEM.
TAMIL SEPARATISTS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING A WAR FOR A SEPARATE
HOMELAND IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST SINCE 1983. THEY ACCUSE
THE MAJORITY SINHALESE OF DICRIMINATION.
THE WAR HAS INTENSIFIED SINCE LAST YEAR WHEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS
LAUNCHED AN OFFENSIVE TO CAPTURE A KEY NORTHERN HIGHWAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/KL
16-Nov-98 9:53 AM EST (1453 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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