LTTE's formula for a 'conducive climate' before peace talks

Talks before talks - Norwegian mediators talking to the LTTE delegation at Kilinochchi last Tuesday.

Landing on Iranamadu tank - LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham steps on to an inflated dinghy from the Twin Otter Maldivian Air Taxi for a ride to a makeshift jetty. Behind him is his wife, Adele Anne. In the centre in Tiger striped camouflage, with his back to camera, is Sea Tiger leader Soosai.

It was a straight run from Room 323 at Male's Hulule Hotel to a safe landing at the Iranamadu tank for Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Chief Negotiator, Anton Balasingham, Australian born wife Adele Anne and entourage last Monday.

The floats of a De Havilland DHC – 6 Twin Otter sea plane of Maldivian Air Taxis, touched down on the placid waters of the seven kilometre long Iranamadu tank at 10.20 a.m.

What is perhaps the only landing of a commercial aircraft in any irrigation tank in Sri Lanka's post independent history was fraught with more than usual security concerns for the LTTE, guarantees of an open ended Ceasefire Agreement notwithstanding. Reports reaching the security establishment from the Wanni spoke of heightened Tiger guerrilla security around the tank and surrounding areas.

Civilian movements were banned. Sea Tiger boats moved on the outer fringe of the tank. Its leader was on board an inflatable dinghy powered by a single Yamaha engine. When the cabin door lowered, this dinghy went alongside the sea plane. Soosai helped Dr. Balasingham and his wife to disembark.

They rode to a make shift jetty. LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, in a light blue safari suit, shook Dr. Balasingham's hand and later held it firmly until his close confidante placed his feet on terra firma.

Thereafter, under the shade of a tree, Mr. Prabhakaran sat down for a brief chat with Dr. Balasingham. The guerrilla leader's wife Mathivathani as well as Mrs. Adele Balasingham, were present surrounded by bodyguards.

If that was the culmination of a near three hour long flight from Maldives over the Indian Ocean, that was also the end of weeks of secret planning by the LTTE with the assistance of Norwegian mediators. Only a handful of Norwegians, Sri Lankans and Maldivians were aware that the pilot and co-pilot of the Twin Otter sea plane from Maldivian Air Taxis, both Canadian nationals, were in Sri Lanka days ahead of the historic flight.

They not only spoke to officials of the Department of Civil Aviation but also to Air Traffic Controllers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to prepare for their impending flight. Elsewhere in the City, The Sunday Times learnt, they also received details of the Wanni area including grid references and maps of the Iranamadu tank and north eastern region.

All throughout the flight to Sri Lanka and on their return, the pilots of the Twin Otter sea plane maintained complete radio silence. All other aircraft entering Sri Lanka's Flight Information Region (FIR) are required to first report by radio to Colombo Airways. They identify themselves, give their flight level and location. In turn Colombo Airways advises them on weather information and runway in use.

Thereafter, they are told to switch radio frequency and maintain contact with Colombo Radar until they are guided for a landing at the BIA. Aircraft bypassing Colombo are given frequencies of neighbouring Air Traffic Control Towers, mostly the one located in the Southern Indian City of Trivandrum, and advised to continue radio contact.

At least one security arm of the State, routinely monitoring air traffic, observed a blip on their radar when the Twin Otter sea plane headed towards the Kilinochchi area from the north eastern seas. Almost around that time they heard Colombo Airways making radio contact with another unscheduled aircraft in Sri Lankan airspace but did not hear any communication from the Twin Otter sea plane.

The Sunday Times learnt that upon coming closer to the north eastern shores, the pilot of the Twin Otter made radio contact with a ground based LTTE radio station. That is how they had learnt it was all clear for a safe landing.

None of the Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft were airborne in the north eastern region. Nor was their UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), which scours the north eastern coastline to detect smuggling of contraband, including military hardware, aloft.

The "Peace Secretariat" in the Prime Minister's Office had asked the Air Force to make preparations to re-fuel the Twin Otter. A fuel bowser guarded by airmen stood ready near an estuary in Negombo.

They waited till their radio crackled announcing the arrival of the sea plane at forenoon Monday but there was no such call. It later transpired that the sea plane had come with additional fuel tanks on board to enable it to return to Male. The Air Force preparations, it turned out, were only a stand by exercise in the event of a contingency.

Why did Dr. Balasingham and his entourage avoid an arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport? The argument that he was a member of a banned group appeared groundless since the arrival in Kilinochchi would have amounted to the same. Another spoke about increased security risks he would face since the LTTE had, only eight months earlier, attacked the Air Force base and the adjoining BIA.

Authoritative security sources, who spoke on grounds of anonymity told The Sunday Times, they believe a more serious security consideration may have been the reason. They say that in the event of an emergency preventing a landing at the BIA, all three alternate airports were in India – Madras, Trivandrum and Cochin. With the LTTE banned in India, fears of an arrest and the consequences that would follow appears to have worried the LTTE. More so with the Indian Government not responding positively to LTTE overtures to secure a venue in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu for peace talks, a move that would have given the guerrillas some measure of legitimacy.

That is in a country where the LTTE is not only banned but its leader, Mr. Prabhakaran and others are wanted for the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, one time Indian Prime Minister.

Dr. Balasingham arrived in Male last Sunday in the company of Erik Solheim, who is the de facto chief mediator, though technically he is playing the number two role. Norway's Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Jon Westborg was on hand to greet them. Both Mr. Solheim and Mr. Westborg returned to Colombo later that Sunday.

Dr. Balasingham and his entourage checked into Hulule Hotel, the only hotel in the airport island of Hulule and run by Singapore Airlines. He and his wife were allotted Room 323 whilst two other guerrilla cadres, believed to be bodyguards were given the next room, 322. Also on hand was Tomas Stangeland, the shy but friendly Second Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.

Armed units of the Maldives National Security Service stood guard outside the hotel area. Plainclothesmen carrying walkie talkies took up position inside various parts of the hotel. Those affording protection were keen to ensure no Sri Lankan nationals were allowed entry into the Hulule Hotel.

Dr. Balasingham, who moved around with the help of a walking stick and Mr. Stangeland were engaged in a chat by the poolside on Sunday night when a group of Sri Lankans working for an international bank in Male, arrived for an evening drink. They were politely asked to leave by the Maldivian security men.

Shortly after dawn on Monday, the Balasinghams, Mr. Stangeland and the two guerrilla cadres were driven to the eastern end of the runway at Hulule airport where facilities are available for passengers to board sea planes. Earlier, barring Mr. Stangeland, the others had obtained visas from the Sri Lanka High Commission in the Maldives. After arrival in Kilinochchi , Dr.Balasin-gham introduced Mr. Stangeland to Mr. Prabhakaran.

The "Peace Secretariat" in Colombo had arranged for a member of the Consular staff in the High Commission to play the role of an Immigration Officer. He placed a "Permitted to land" seal on the passports of Dr. Balasingham and party. If security procedures were followed in respect of all their baggage, it is not clear how Customs formalities were executed.

It is not unusual for immigration formalities of a host country to be carried out outside their territorial waters. For example, Immigration and Customs formalities for those travelling from some Canadian ports to the United States are carried out at terminals in Canada. It is the same in the case of those proceeding from some US ports to Canada.

However, that is a permanent arrangement where the Immigration and Customs authorities are positioned to carry out tasks. In this instance, it was a special arrangement only in respect of Dr. Balasingham and party.

If Dr. Balasingham was received by Mr. Solheim and Mr. Westborg in Male last Sunday, it was now the former's turn to return greetings in Kilinochchi. They arrived there on Monday afternoon in a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter in the company of retired Norwegian Major General Trond Furohovde and a colleague.

After an overnight stay in an LTTE guest house, the Norwegian team sat down to a crucial round of talks with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Included in the latter's team were Dr. Balasingham, wife Adele and Political Wing leader Thamil Chelvam.

The lengthy discussion centred around matters to be resolved ahead of the upcoming historic peace talks. They included:

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPEN ENDED CEASEFIRE AND ITS PROVISIONS: A review of how provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement is being enforced. It also covered references to violations.

FACTORS NOT COVERED BY THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT: One of the matters on which attention was focused was activity at sea. Provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement in respect of this subject says "The Sri Lankan armed forces shall continue to perform their legitimate task of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka without engaging in offensive operations against the LTTE." Whilst the position being so, Government leaders have insisted that the Sri Lanka Navy was still empowered to intercept Tiger guerrilla boats suspected of smuggling military hardware. In fact the Navy has issued new Rules of Engagement in this regard where patrols are empowered to deal with those suspected of smuggling of military hardware.

In other words they are empowered, if required, to play and 'offensive' role.

RE-OPENING OF A-9 KANDY-JAFFNA HIGHWAY: Among other matters, mine clearing operations and current preparations for the re-opening are learnt to have been reviewed. The LTTE had declared it would send two of its cadres holding the rank of "Colonel" to liaise with the Sri Lanka Army on the re-opening of the highway on April 8. Earlier, the LTTE wanted to nominate a group of female cadres for this purpose.

MATTERS RELATING TO THE UPCOMING PEACE TALKS: The LTTE is learnt to have made clear it wants a number of outstanding issues resolved before peace talks with the Government could commence. Whilst ensuring that provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement are fully enforced, they have said that the economic embargo on guerrilla dominated areas and the ban on fishing in the north should be completely lifted. It has also said that there should be a de-proscription of the LTTE and that it be allowed to run an Interim Administration for a period of two years. It is only when all these measures, which "create a conducive atmosphere" are created could the LTTE take part in peace talks.

Now that the Government of Thailand has agreed to host the peace talks, Norwegian negotiators on Tuesday discussed with LTTE leaders the exact venue and possible dates last Tuesday.

However, the Norwegians still have an uphill task. They will have to make sure the LTTE's latest requests are discussed with the United Front Leadership and finalised before the Thai talks. Whether this could be done in the coming weeks, before talks could commence in May is the latest challenge for the Norwegian mediators.

Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesson, is due in Colombo next month, soon after the Sinhala-Hindu New Year holidays. He is scheduled to have a meeting with Mr. Prabhakaran on April 17, easily the curtain raiser before the focus shifts to Thailand.