Search the Internet          Tips

LTTE asks India to host talks

K Venkataramanan in Colombo

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has requested the Indian government to allow it to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government in a south Indian city.

"A letter has been sent to the Government of India seeking permission to have the talks in any south Indian city. It has been sent through the Norwegian peace facilitation team both from Oslo and Colombo," LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham said.

The Norwegian delegation, which wound up a two-day visit to Colombo last week, is due to meet Balasingham in London on Tuesday. "The team will apprise me of India's response," the spokesman said in an interview to local Tamil daily Sudar Oli.

Balasingham sought to stress the importance of holding the negotiations in India in view of his need for constant medical attention and its practical utility in enabling LTTE participants to return to their headquarters in Vanni for discussions with their leader V Prabhakaran.

He alleged that political leaders in India, especially Tamil Nadu, were needlessly complicating and politicising a "humantarian issue", as he had undergone a kidney transplant and needed medical attention.

"My presence is absolutely necessary for carrying on the negotiations, and I have to be alive to participate in it," he said.

Referring to the charge that allowing the LTTE to gain a foothold in India once again may endanger its security, Balasingham said he would undertake only peace-related activity.

PTI

Tell us what you think of this report