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We are fighting for self-determination, not a separate nation: LTTE

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Wednesday said their outfit is fighting for self-determination and not for a separate nation.

Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator of the LTTE, which is holding peace talks with a Sri Lankan delegation at Sattahip naval base in Thailand, said, "We operate with the concept of a homeland and self-determination. Homeland does not mean a separate state, it means an area where Tamils and Muslims live."

At the end of the first round of talks, both the delegations agreed to work together to resettle people displaced in the two decades-old conflict by establishing a Joint Task Force for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Activities before they meet again from October 31 to November 3.

Balasingham, however, ruled out the LTTE disarming at this 'early stage of discussions'. "Both parties have standing armies and navies, and that the question of decommissioning or disarming will not arrive until we reach a permanent solution meeting the aspirations of Tamil people," he said.

A Norwegian government statement said that talks are also scheduled for December 2 to 5 and January 6 to 9, 2003.

Balasingham also said India was 'fully backing' the peace process between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government.

"I think when an overall solution is reached and the affected communities are satisfied with the political system, when their rights are recognized, the Government of India will be the first to welcome it," he said.

He said New Delhi was being briefed on every aspect of the peace process by the Sri Lankan government and the Norwegians, who have been instrumental in getting the two sides to talk peace.

The London-based negotiator said that India did not want the conflict to continue as it caused 'an element of instability in the whole region'.

Agencies

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