Lankan President seeks direct peace deal with Tigers
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, June 25, IRNA
Sri Lanka-LTTE-Peace Deal
In a bid to restore peace in the island country, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is seeking a direct deal with LTTE which would halt attacks in the island, in return for containing a breakaway rebel faction, as Norway peace broker failed to arrange peace meet.
The president sent a message to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) through Tamil-language newspaper Sudaroli's editor N Vidyatharan and its publisher E Saravanapavan, Doordarshan News reported here.
"Both the LTTE and the army are preparing for war and the people and I are caught in the middle. We don't have to work through Norway, why don't we deal directly?" the president was quoted as saying.
It said the editor confirmed he had a meeting with Rajapakse, but declined to discuss his talks.
Further, according to the report, part of Rajapakse's offer pledged to contain a renegade rebel commander in the island's east, V Muralitharan, who is better known as Colonel Karuna.
Karuna has been blamed for attacks against civilians and the Tigers since his split from the LTTE in March 2004.
According to the rebel leaders Karuna is working for the government to disrupt their operations.
"The president had also said he will ensure the Karuna group also does not carry out any attacks during the period," the daily reported.
Rajapakse's initiative comes amid an upsurge in violence that has seen more than 815 people killed since his election in November and threatens to derail a ceasefire signed by a previous government in 2002.
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