Sri Lanka

EU backs Tamil Tiger truce call, army says no

Article published on the 2009-02-23 Latest update 2009-02-24 07:19 TU

A Sri Lankan soldier stands guard
(Photo: Reuters)

European Union foreign ministers issued a joint call for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) appealed for international intervention to put a stop to the government’s offensive against them. The army ruled out any ceasefire without surrender.

The LTTE called on the United Nations, United States, European Union, Japan, and former peace-broker Norway to step in and work for a new ceasefire, “so the miseries of the Tamils… are brought to an end”, LTTE political leader B Nadesan said.

“We also wish to inform the international community that we are ready to discuss, co-operate, and work together in all their efforts to bring an immediate ceasefire and work towards a political settlement,” he said.

But the Sri Lankan military said that it would not accept anything short of a complete surrender of the rebel forces. This, the Tigers warn, is not an option for them.

“The world should take note,” Nadesan cautioned, “that calls for the LTTE to lay down its arms and surrender is not helpful for resolving the conflict.”

The Tigers are now cornered by government forces in the north-east of the island, following an offensive launched in December 2008. The Sri Lankan government withdrew from a Norwegian-brokered truce at the beginning of last year, accusing the Tigers of using the peace process as cover for rearmament and consolidation of their forces.