De-proscription of Rebels Not to Affect Government Military Capability

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 13, 2002

De-proscription of Rebels Not to Affect Government Military Capability

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Sri Lankan government spokesman and Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris has said that the de-proscription of separatist Tamil Tiger rebels will have no impact on the military capability of the country's defense forces.

Peiris was quoted by The Island newspaper as telling the Royal Commonwealth Society in London earlier this week that de- proscription of the Tamil rebels is on the assumption that peace talks will begin soon and they will move forward smoothly and there will be genuine commitment to the pursuit of a political solution.

The de-proscription of the rebels within Sri Lanka would have no connection to actions taken by other governments regarding the matter in their own jurisdictions, he said.

Commenting on the impending talks in Thailand he said this was not a repetition of previous attempts. The role of a well meaning and professionally competent third party was indispensable.

The government has said that the ban on Tamil rebels will be lifted 10 days before Norwegian-brokered peace talks with the rebels expected to take place in Thailand at the end of this month or early July.

The Tamil rebels insist that they will enter the talks with the government only when the ban imposed on them is lifted. They said they can not hold talks with the government as an outlawed organization.

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