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No 'core issues' in Thailand, says Thamilselvan
LTTE rejects guns-for-lands policy
By Anthony David
Tiger guerrillas will not agree to link Security Forces withdrawals from the High Security Zones in the Jaffna peninsula to disarming their cadres or decommissioning their weapons, Political Wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan has declared.

"For civilians to go back to their homes, this demand is not only unrealistic but unconnected," he told The Sunday Times during an interview in the Wanni. He spoke from the Political Headquarters of the LTTE in Kilinochchi with the help of an English translator. Pointing out that "giving up weapons" is "invariably asking the Tamil people to be left unprotected," Mr. Thamilselvan declared "that cannot be compromised under any circumstances until such time an acceptable settlement is reached."

He said "the entire existence of the Tamil nation is dependent on the military strength of their freedom fighters. That cannot be connected with the civilians going back to their homes."

Mr Thamilselvan and an entourage including LTTE's "Eastern Comman-der" Karuna arrived in Colombo by an Air Force helicopter on Friday night. They later boarded a flight to Bangkok to be on hand for peace talks that resume in the Rose Garden Resort at Nakhon Pathorn tomorrow. LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham is expected to fly direct from London to Bangkok.

The Sunday Times learns that Mr. Thamilselvan is to spell out the LTTE's position that disarming their cadres or de-commissioning their weapons cannot be linked to Security Forces withdrawals from the High Security Zone. Chief Negotiator Balasingham has already made clear his delegation will not discuss any core issues at the talks that begin tomorrow. This is until the imbroglio over the HSZ is resolved.

Mr Thamilselvan declined to discuss the question of when the subject of de-commissioning would become appropriate by saying it was a "hypothetical issue" at the moment. "We do not consider it prudent to discuss this type of matter at a time when we have not gone into nuances or the political ramifications involved," he pointed out. He insisted "the question of de-commissioning does not arise at this moment."

Mr Thamilselvan admitted that Security Forces had cooperated in "implementing certain obligations" in some parts of the North and East. "Unfortunately, questions have arisen over Jaffna HSZs which are areas under forceful occupation for nearly a quarter of a century. Much wanted cooperation from the person who is in charge of the entire peninsula, the Security Forces Commander, Jaffna is not forthcoming," he charged.

"The Government has won a mandate for peace. We feel the military commander for Jaffna is therefore acting against the will of the people of this country," he said. (See interview on Mr. Thamilselvan.)

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