Sri Lankan Tamil Rebels Set Condition for Peace Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 31, 2002

Sri Lankan Tamil Rebels Set Condition for Peace Talks

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Sri Lankan separatist Tamil Tigerrebels have demanded that a number of issues including the de-proscription of the organization be sort out before peace talks with the government expected to be held in Thailand, the Sunday Times newspaper said.

The issues put forward by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels when they met the Norwegian facilitators in the north on Tuesday including a total lifting of the economic embargoon the LEET dominated areas and all restrictions on fishing in thenorth of the country, the de-proscription of the organization as well as the establishment of an interim administration in the north and east for a two year period.

The LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran led his team with the participation of their chief negotiator Anton Balasingham, who returned from London to help prepare for the talks, and Thamil Chelvam, the LTTE political wing leader.

The Norwegian team comprised peace envoy Erik Solheim, Norwegian ambassador to Sri Lanka Jon Westborg, and truce monitoring mission head Major General Trond Furohovde.

Official sources said that the government will consider a temporary de-proscription of the LTTE to facilitate the talks which is expected to be held in Thailand in early May.

It is reported that Constitutional Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris will head the government delegation in talks with the LTTE.The team will also comprise Economic Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda and Sri Lankan ambassador to China Bernard Gunatillake who heads the peace secretariat and Finance Minister K.N. Choksy.

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