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U.S. Disturbed by Sri Lanka Tamil Separatist Statement

28 November 2006

State's McCormack urges an end to violence, return to peace talks in Sri Lanka

By David McKeeby
USINFO Staff Writer

Washington ─ The United States is “disturbed” by reports that the leader of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stated that he considers the 2002 cease-fire agreement with the government of Sri Lanka to be defunct.

“We condemn the Tamil Tigers for fueling violence and hostility,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said November 28.  “Violence and terrorism do nothing to advance the resolution of the conflict, and we're pressing both sides, the government as well as the Tigers, to honor the cease-fire agreement and return to a dialogue that will move the nation toward peace.”

For decades, the Sri Lankan government has been locked in a conflict with Tamil separatists from the LTTE that has claimed more than 65,000 lives.  In recent months, clashes between government forces and LTTE rebels in northern and eastern Sri Lanka have killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands more.  (See related article.)

In a November 27 speech, LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran blamed Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the recent surge in violence, which he said rendered the 2002 cease-fire agreement “defunct.”

“We were disturbed by those reports,” McCormack said.  “The 2002 cease-fire agreement is the foundation on which both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers can find mutual understanding and build sustainable peace.”   

On November 21, McCormack said, the United States hosted a meeting of the co-chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Donors’ Conference on Sri Lanka.  The contact group, comprised of representatives from Japan, Norway, the European Union and the United States, met to discuss the deteriorating security situation and issued a statement condemning “continued and systematic cease-fire violations” by both government and separatist forces.  (See related article.)

“The Tigers can choose to return to the peace process and should do so for the benefit of the Sri Lankan people,” McCormack said.

(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)