Sri Lankan Tamil Party Calls for Lifting of Ban on Tiger Rebels

Sri Lanka's mainstream Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has called for the lifting of the ban placed on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.

In a statement available on Friday the TULF leader M. Sivasithamparam said that the government must lift the ban immediately as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) rebels will be speaking on behalf of the minority Tamil people.

As their sole representatives they cannot be expected to participate in the scheduled talks except on the basis of equality,he added.

Sivasithamparam stated that the government is making all arrangements for talks with the LTTE rebels and several ministers are making statements about it.

The most important matter about the talks is the lifting of theban on the rebels. They have made it perfectly clear that they will not come for talks unless the ban is lifted, he noted.

The government and LTTE rebels are observing an indefinite ceasefire in terms of an agreement signed by the two sides in February. Both sides are expected to hold direct peace talks in Thailand in June.

The LTTE rebels insist that government should lift ban on them before the peace talks start.

( May 17, 2002)