'Talks decision by LTTE on Oct. 19' LTTE

The LTTE is to take a final decision on its participation at the Geneva talks scheduled for October 28 this week. The Tiger decision decision is to be communicated to Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer by LTTE Political Wing Leader, S.P. Tamilselvan on Thursday, October 19. The LTTE last week said it was running out of patience over continuous attacks by the government and that it would send a serious message to the government to halt all attacks if any talks are to be held. The Tigers said that more attacks in the coming days by the security forces might push them to pull out of the Cease Fire Agreement altogether.

"We are running out of patience. Although we have not pulled out officially, we will continue to monitor the situation and if the government continues with its attacks, we will decide on the future of the truce and the peace talks when Jon Hanssen- Bauer arrives for a discussion with the LTTE in Kilinochchi. Till then we will wait," LTTE Military Spokesperson, Rasiah Illanthirayan told The Sunday Leader. Norwegian Special Peace Envoy Hanssen-Bauer is expected to hold discussions with the Tigers on October 19, his second such meeting within three weeks.

Illanthirayan added that the LTTE military hierarchy had held discussions on the current military situation and although the LTTE had conveyed to the government through the Norwegians that all violence should halt if talks are to proceed, no progress had been made to date. The LTTE two weeks back wrote to the Norwegians and the SLMM indicating their stand on continued government military action. However, soon after the letters were handed in, confrontations broke out at Mankerni, Batticaloa and Muhamalai, Jaffna.

The government in the meantime continued to maintain that the Ceasefire Agreement did not preclude defensive action by government forces faced with Tiger attacks. The government also said that continuing military action did not hamper discussions taking place. "The LTTE is charging the government that this situation could hamper talks later this month. The government wishes to reiterate that this situation will not hamper talks in any way due to take place between the government and the LTTE later this month," the Center for National Security said