People's Democracy

On Sri Lankan Situation

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement on April 27, 2006

THE attack on the Sri Lankan army chief by a suicide bomber is a grave provocation which jeopardizes the ceasefire and possibilities of resumption of the peace process. The terrorist attack within the army headquarters has killed ten people and has all the hallmarks of a LTTE operation, despite its formal denial. The LTTE’s claim that it is committed to the ceasefire will have no credibility if it pursues such vicious assassination tactics.

The overall situation in Sri Lanka causes concern. The LTTE withdrew from participation in the second round of talks scheduled to be held this month in Switzerland. At the ground level, attacks on Tamils in Trincamolee have taken place while the Sri Lankan army and navy have lost more than hundred soldiers in the last five months. Norway and all the concerned countries who are backing the peace initiative should take a firm stand against the provocations by the LTTE. The Indian government must also send out a clear message that such activities will not be tolerated as it will have adverse repercussions within India.

  The Sri Lankan government must deal with the situation with restraint and patience so that the overriding interest of maintaining the ceasefire and pursuing the peace process does not get further complicated. It is important to understand that resumption of hostilities, which will affect the Tamil minority people badly, will only play into the hands of the LTTE and aggravate ethnic tensions at the ground level.