Untitled Document

Unseen side of the LTTE's peace strategy
In the jungles of the Wanni, the undisputed leader of the striped kind was secretly meeting with his theoretician just after the talks to discuss strategy.
"So, Bala, what was it like in Bangkok?"
"I am certain we were able to get a huge amount of publicity out of this exercise."
"Yes, of course, that is exactly why we went along with it."
"And we also became respectable once again."
"Yes, Bala, that was also one of the reasons why I agreed."
"But the question is, what do we do next?"
"We play the old game of 'wait and see'"
"I told them we would like to talk some more"
"And what about our secret plan?"
"Ah, yes, that went very well"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Why, when I said that we don't believe in a separate state, everyone stared in disbelief"
"So, you caught them by surprise"
"And gave everyone hope"
"But of course you mentioned something else too"
"Yes, I did. I told them that if our demands were not met we would have no choice"
"And the media loved every minute of it"
"Well, not only the media, I think even the other side loved every minute of it"
"Why shouldn't they? After all, they can now take the credit for bringing peace"
"And we can take the credit for transforming ourselves"
"The question however is, Bala, whether we want to"
"That's what I want to ask you about"
"What do you think?"
"Well, the more we commit ourselves to these talks, the more difficult it will be for us to go back on our word"
"Ah, don't you worry about that, Bala; that can always be arranged"
"How can you arrange that?"
"The same old strategy of course-take what is given and then ask for more. So much more that they possibly cannot give in"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Why, we can always ask for our own flag"
"The professor is so accommodating he might even work his way around such a demand"
"Maybe we can even ask for our own currency, then"
"I see what you mean- we can always ask for something which will be impossible to concede"
"But of course, in the meantime, we must keep talking"
"But, couldn't we agree to a settlement at all?"
"Bala, you surely realise my problem, don't you?"
"Of course I do"
"It's easy for you to say that. With you, they only have to find a nearby hospital to satisfy you"
"But with you, there will always be someone, especially from our giant neighbour's side, wanting you to go on trial for all those incidents you masterminded"
"So, how can I agree to anything even if they agree to give us our own currency?"
"I can understand that. So, maybe I should bring that up at the next meetings"
"I am sure they will understand"
"How can you be so confident of that?"
"Why, Bala there are so many of them with criminal charges pending against them in their own assembly that they would know what to do"
Bala didn't disagree with that.

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