Norway envoy eyes SL peace talks, some wary

Colombo, Oct 3: Norway's special peace envoy flew to the Tamil Tigers' northern stronghold today seeking to arrange talks to halt renewed civil war with Sri Lanka's government, amid fears the rebels are planning a major attack.

Jon Hanssen-Bauer met S P Thamilselvan, leader of the rebel's political wing, in Kilinochchi a day after meeting government officials in Colombo.

He is trying to secure pledges from both sides that they will listen to the island's main donors and halt fighting that has killed hundreds of civilians, troops and rebel fighters since late July and forced of thousands of people from their homes.

''I'm hopeful the parties will be able to meet the challenges posed by the co-chairs (donors), but am also mindful of the fact that it's not easy,'' Hanssen-Bauer said late yesterday.

''I hope the international community is prepared to stand by the process in the long-haul and not expect quick results.'' The government and the rebels say they are ready to resume talks after a five-month impasse. But sporadic fighting continues and Nordic truce monitors see little will from either side to halt the violence.

Some fear any talks might be premature given the upsurge in fighting, the worst since a 2002 truce.

Emboldened by the capture of strategic rebel territory south of the northeast harbour of Trincomalee, some military officials say they are keen to inflict as many casualties on the Tigers as possible before any talks.

''There is every prospect of the rebels trying to resort to a retaliatory strike, and the precautions in Colombo prove that the government is trying to prevent that possibility,'' said Iqbal Athas of Jane's Defence Weekly, referring to security checkpoints that have mushroomed along roads into the capital.

''They can resort to guerrilla tactics. The danger is that they have not been deprived of their guerrilla capability,'' he added.

''If you look at all the ground realities, a greater degree of pessimism is reasonable.''

TIGERS BUYING TIME?

Analysts suspect shadowy Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is buying time. They say he's ready for his political wing to talk with the government, giving his forces the chance to regroup after fierce aerial bombing, artillery and rocket fire by the security forces.

Prabhakaran's annual Heroes' Day address in November is approaching, and after two consecutive years threatening to resume the Tigers' freedom struggle for a separate homeland, is seen under pressure.

''They need to do something pretty fast because their credibility on the ground is hurting,'' said Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu of the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

''There is pressure on him to do something spectacular, something to show at least he can regain the initiative and set the agenda.'' President Mahinda Rajapakse is in talks with the island's main opposition party to seek a consensus among the majority Sinhalese south on how to end the two-decade civil war that has killed more than 65,000 people since 1983.

Some expect Rajapakse to call parliamentary elections by the end of the year to capitalise on advances made against the Tigers and strengthen his minority government.

His administration is also preparing the 2007 budget, mindful of the strain the conflict has placed on the 23 billion dollars economy as well as the impact of high oil prices.

''It will be a feel-good budget. Plus, if the ascendancy on the military front continues, that will be quite a powerful combination for him,'' said Saravanamuttu.

REUTERS

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