Selected Texts from the 1994-5 Negotiations Process These pages reproduce excerpts from letters, exchanged between representatives of the Sri Lankan government the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) LTTE Political Head Office Mr K. Balapatabendi Dear Mr. Balapatabendi, Thank you for your communication dated 27 January. First of all we wish to clarify certain issues that have given rise to misconceptions with regard to our position on the functioning of the monitoring committees. You are aware that foreign delegates from three different western countries were invited by both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, as the parties in conflict, to function as chairmen of the monitoring committees. They were invited as neutral observers, by consent of both parties, to carry out a sensitive function impartially. We anticipated that the accredited foreign delegates would formally meet the representatives of both parties before they resume their functions. Such a gesture, we presumed, was vital to ensure their role in a neutral capacity and to create a better understanding of the nature of the conflict. It would have been proper .......... had made arrangements for such a meeting. But we were surprised to note that the government leaders, having had a meeting with these delegates, dispatched them to take up assignments immediately in the committees at Batticaloa and Trincomalee without extending to us the courtesy of meeting them. This is why we registered our protest and demanded to meet the foreign delegates. We think our request is fair and reasonable. In reference to this issue, you have, in your letter, made an unwarranted accusation that we deliberately sought to prevent the functioning of the monitoring committees. Such a perception is biased and based on a total misconception of our position. Furthermore, we wanted clarifications and specifications from the government on certain crucial matters with regard to modalities of cessation of hostilities before the formation of the monitoring committees so that it would help to facilitate the smooth implementation of ceasefire. When these issues were raised at the last round of talks, you suggested that these matters be forwarded in writing for consideration in Colombo. We responded to your request and listed the problems in writing, to which you state in your letter, that we have shifted our position and are raising new demands. You are aware that the declaration of cessation of hostilities allows for six monitoring committees to function in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaittivu, Trincomalee and Batticaloa-Ampara. But the government has opted for four committees without consulting us. We insist that there should be six monitoring committees and suggest that two more delegates each from Canada and Netherlands could be appointed without further delay. You will appreciate that the LTTE, in spite of various provocations from the security forces, has been observing the ceasefire strictly without causing any violations to the cessation of hostilities. The list you have submitted as violations is based on misrepresentation and distortion of facts. We are enclosing herewith a separate list of violations committed by the security forces in the eastern province. The incident you are referring as the most serious provocation has already been communicated to Col. Ratwatte. This incident took place on the 23 January 1995 at Kalkudah, Batticaloa. A sea tiger boat with seven of our cadres, on account of engine trouble, was compelled to land on the beach at Kalkudah. This was an accident and was not in any way intended to violate the conditions of the agreement. The boat was carrying a machine gun, not artillery as you have said. Our cadres were arrested and later released but their weapons, walkie-talkie and the boat are still held in custody. We have made several requests to regain the confiscated articles but so far this matter is not resolved. Since the incident was accident and not a deliberate breach of the ceasefire agreement, we kindly request you to instruct the field commander of the area to handover the weapons, walkie-talkie and the boat to the LTTE. You are aware that the agreement on cessation of hostilities does not allow for confiscation of weapons, and if the weapons are not returned to us immediately, we will regard this as an unfriendly gesture that will undermine the spirit of the ceasefire agreement. We wish to state emphatically that the LTTE is not involved in the incident at Nittambuwa. The person to whom you are referring is not a LTTE member. We are surprised and disturbed over the innuendo expressed in your letter that the LTTE poses a serious security threat to the President. This is a baseless conjecture. Your accusation that the LTTE is constructing new camps and conducting a massive recruitment campaign in the eastern province in preparation for a major military offensive is totally unfounded. You will agree that political cadres should enjoy the liberty of carrying out political works among our people. It is true that we have established a police station at Murunkan in the LTTE controlled area for civil administrative purposes which does not constitute a violation of the cessation of hostilities. We have clarified and explained issues raised by you in your letter. These matters need a thorough discussion and agreement by both parties. Therefore, we believe that negotiations should resume soon so that these crucial matters can be settled amicably. Thanking you, S. P. Tamilselvan Leader, Political Section, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Appended to this letter was a list of alleged 'Violations of cessation of hostilities by the armed forces in the eastern province'.
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