Negotiators representing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government began arriving in Geneva this week ahead of Norwegian-brokered talks over the weekend, their first since February. Both sides have sent large delegations. But no agenda has been agreed. And, as simmering violence continues on the ground, there is no goodwill either.
Several weeks after the international community, led by the Co-Chairs of the donor community – the United States, European Union, Japan and peace-broker Norway – demanded a return to the table, the negotiators are on their way to Switzerland.
Since the last round of face-to-face talks in Geneva February 2006, the violence between both sides has escalated.
Sri Lanka agreed then to disarm Army-backed paramilitaries waging a murderous campaign against LTTE supporters and members. The LTTE agreed to cease attacks against the armed forces.
But the military expanded the paramilitaries instead and the ‘shadow war’ between them and the LTTE exploded into direct confrontations, while the background murders of LTTE-supporters also escalated.
In the past few months, amid set-piece battles between the LTTE and Sri Lankan armed forces, hundreds of civilians have either been murdered or disappeared in military custody.
Meanwhile, since heavy fighting in the region in mid-August, the A9 highway to the Jaffna peninsula remains cut off. The government is refusing to open the road, which runs through LTTE-controlled Vanni to the northern peninsula.
The government insists supplies can be taken by sea under the escort of the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). But the LTTE suspects the military plans to resupply its massive garrison in Jaffna in ships flying ICRC flags.
Amid this deadlock, violence has continued. In several offensives throughout the Northeast since late July, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has captured territory from the LTTE.
Amid the sense of triumph, Colombo adopted a hardline on negotiations, even rejecting the Co-Chairs demand that talks be held immediately in Oslo.
But a severe defeat two weeks ago in a short bloody battle in which at least 130 SLA soldiers were killed and 500 wounded, has sobered the euphoria. As did two subsequent suicide bombings, one on a naval convoy which killed 115 sailors and another on the Galle naval base.
The enthusiasm for further military operations might have been temporarily dulled, but not the animosity between the parties. Unlike the previous seven rounds of talks, both delegations will not even stay in the same hotels in Switzerland.
Most importantly, there is no agreement on the agenda.
The government says it wants to discuss the "core" issues of the conflict. However the rebels said they were more concerned with humanitarian issues and the implementation of the February 2002 ceasefire.
"The agenda for the talks has not been worked out," head of the LTTE Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan told reporters. "However, on our part, we have prepared to focus the urgent humanitarian crisis caused by the Sri Lankan state terrorism in the Tamil homeland."
He defined "state terrorism" as violence by Sri Lankan forces ranging from aerial attacks on civilian targets, extra-judicial killings, use of paramilitaries against civilians, to blocking humanitarian supplies to civilian population.
Analysts say both sides are begrudgingly participating in the talks to avoid alienating the international community.
The LTTE has bluntly said it only agreed to attend the talks out of respect for the international community.
Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse, who was elected to office by a wave of Sinhala nationalist support last November has reportedly told the government delegation to convince the international community of the government's “honest commitment to achieving lasting peace.”
And this week, his ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the main opposition United National Party (UNP). The international community has long urged a bi-partisan consensus on the ethnic question between the two largest southern parties.
But, despite disquiet over rising human rights abuses by the military, including the massacre of 17 aid workers, and repeated offensives into LTTE-controlled areas, it is the government which is enjoying international goodwill ahead of the Geneva talks.
Over the weekend, the United States threw its weight behind Colombo.
“We are signaling our strong support for the government of Sri Lanka. We do not recognise Tami Tigers and we don't support them,” US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told a round table of South Asian journalists.
"We have excellent relations with the government of Sri Lanka. I have met with President [Mahinda] Rajapakse,” he added.
On Monday the LTTE’s delegation left Kilinochchi for Colombo in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter. Amid concerns for the safety of LTTE officials in government-controlled areas, they were accompanied by Norway’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Hans Brattskar.
The 13-member team LTTE team included Mr. Tamilselvan, Tamil Eelam Police Chief, Mr. B. Nadesan, head of the Peace Secretariat, Mr. S. Puleedevan, the LTTE’s Military Spokesman, Mr. Irasiah Ilanthirayan and Deputy Head of the Women's Section of the Political Wing, Ms. Thamilvili.
These five officials, along with the LTTE's Legal Advisor, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, based in the USA comprise the LTTE’s negotiating team, TamilNet reported.
The government’s an eight-member negotiating team headed by Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, along with several aides, were scheduled to leave for Geneva on Wednesday.
A statement said the delegation would also include Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Ferial Ashraff and Rohitha Bogollagama; Peace Secretariat head Palitha Kohona; Gomin Dayasiri, adviser to the President, and the former Police Chief Chandra Fernando.
