DATE=11/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA / OPPOSITION (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256316
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Sri Lanka, the leader of the main opposition
party and a candidate for president, has pledged to open
talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels if he is elected. As
Vandana Chopra reports from Colombo, the pledge comes from
the man who is the biggest rival to President Chandrika
Kumaratunga in next month's elections.
TEXT: The leader of Sri Lanka's United National Party,
Ranil Wickremesinghe, has promised that, as president, he
would open a dialogue with the rebels.
Mr. Wickeremasinghe also said he will try, as a first step,
to set up an interim council in the northern and eastern
provinces to address the problems of the country's 3-point
two million Tamils.
Mr. Wickeremasinghe said he does not have an instant
solution to end the war but will take positive steps, like
de-escalating the war and opening talks with the rebel
guerrillas.
He did not mention any pre-condition for talks, unlike
President Chandrika Kumaratunga who wants the guerrillas to
first put down their arms before any talks can begin.
Since 1983, Tiger guerrillas have been fighting for a
separate homeland for the minority Tamil community in Sri
Lanka's north and East.
The United National party was thrown out of power in 1994
by President Chandrika Kumaratunga's, People's Alliance
after governing the country for 17 years.
There are 13 candidates running for office in the December
21st election, but the main fight is between Ranil
Wickremasinghe and President Kumaratunga.
Last month, President Kumaratunga called elections nearly a
year early, saying she needs voters to give her a renewed
mandate to end the country's 16-year civil war.
However, her bid for re-election has been clouded by recent
army losses to the Tiger guerrillas. (Signed)
NEB/VC/KL
18-Nov-1999 11:04 AM EDT (18-Nov-1999 1604 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
