Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Fides Service) - It is necessary to stop the long series of political homicides in order to give new impulse to peace talks in Sri Lanka, local Church sources told Fides.
Although the cease fire is respected, moderate leaders, informers, mediators, people trying to bring the parties to negotiate are being murdered one after the other. The victims are mainly moderate Tamils, accused by extremists Tamils of wanting to give too much to the government of Colombo.
Observers say Norwegian mediator Jan Petersen, who recently met members of the government and the Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam, said targeted violence must be stopped before it ruins the political and social climate and generates new hatred and conflict. Petersen left Sri Lanka having accomplished nothing in his meetings with the government and the LTTE.
The peace process stalled in April 2003. The rebels demand in interim administration in the Tamil areas on the north and east of the Island, a proposal rejected by the government. Observers say that the government’s situation is not clear. The government is formed of a coalition which cannot agree on a position to adopt towards the separatist rebels. Some want to negotiate, other more extremist and nationalist sectors claim that negotiations would lead to secession and they want a hard line.
Fides sources say negotiations should be resumed because in the present situation of stalemate could easily deteriorate to open conflict or there could be some attempt to trigger a chain of violence.
The LTTE has been fighting for autonomy since 1983. The cease fire has held since February 2002. In twenty years of civil was at least 65,000 people died and at least one million were displaced.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/11/2004 righe 31 parole 326)
