Colombo: The People's Liberation Front of Tamil Eelam the breakaway faction of the LTTE has offered a ceasefire, ahead of the Tigers' talks with the government in a bid to bring Sri Lanka permanent peace.
The Lankan government and the LTTE agreed last week to meet for the first time in four years to try and save the cease-fire, which is under severe pressure from violence that has killed at least 150 people since December 2005.
The Lankan government-LTTE talks are set to be held in Switzerland in February. An exact date has not yet been confirmed.
However, on Tuesday the Tamil Tiger rebels said that they would pull out of upcoming peace talks in Switzerland unless the government takes greater steps to protect Tamils against abductions.
Participation in the talks will depend on what steps the government takes to stop kidnappings and harassment of Tamils, a senior rebel official, Seevaratnam Puleedevan, said from the de-facto rebel Capital of Kilinochchi.
The breakaway Peoples' Liberation Front of Tamil Eelam separated from the LTTE in March 2004 and is believed to have a significant number of followers in the island country's east. The LTTE, whose main power base in the north, has accused Sri Lanka's military of backing the breakaway faction. The military denies the allegation.
(With AP inputs)
Comments
0 comment