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PRESS RELEASE
LTTE Headquarters LTTE Condemns Kadirgamar's Statement 'International Mediation is Necessary' The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) wish to emphasise that internation al third party mediation is crucial and necessary for a negotiated political settlement of the Tamil national question.
We regret to note that Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, in a press interview in New York on Monday, has rejec ted international mediation as unwanted and unnecessary. Mr. Kadirgamar's statement reflects the narrow, intransigent and uncompromising attitude of the Sri Lanka government which has been seeking a repressive military solution to the ethnic conflict by committing widescale human rights violations against the Tamil people. The people of Tamil Eelam hold the view that the international community has a significant role to play in this intractable conflict. The leadership of the LTTE has also open ly declared the necessity of third party mediation for a negotiated political settlement. We are in favour of international mediation because direct talks between the parties in conflict have failed due to mutual distrust and hostility. We are surprised to note that Mr. Kadirgamar, who has been touring the globe on a tireless diplomatic offensive pleading with the international community to interfere and take repressive measures against the LTTE, is reluctant to seek international assistance to end the ever escalating war and violence in the country. By postulating the principle of state sovereignty as inviolable and sacred and portraying the war of national liberation of the Tamil people as 'terrorism', Mr. Kadirgamar is engaged in decep tive diplomacy covering up the genocidal repression and monumental humanitarian tragedies inflicted on the Tamil population. Having rejected the assistance and involvement of the international community in seeking a peaceful negotiated settlement, Mr. Kadirgamar has done irreparable damage to peace efforts and driven a deeper wedge between the warring nations in the island. (Released by the International Secretariat of LTTE, 211 Katherine Rd, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom. Tel : 0181-503 4294) |