"Government has ignored LTTE's Peace efforts" -Thmail Chelvan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 August 2001, 23:03 GMT]
"The Liberation Tigers observed a four-month ceasefire with the intention of bringing an end to the war, but the Sri Lankan government ignored our ceasefire. It is unfortunate that our efforts to bring peace did not succeed," Mr. S.P.Thamil Chelvan, political wing leader of the LTTE, has told Mr. A.P.Nanayakkara, leader of the Association of Families of Servicemen Missing in Action (AFSMA), who spoke at a news conference in Colombo on Tuesday.

According to Mr. Nanayakkara, Mr. ThamilChelvan further told him: "Liberation Tigers always remain open to negotiations. If the war is not brought to an end, the country's economy will further deteriorate. Tigers have no ill will toward the Sinhalese people. Sinhalese youth are joining the Army just for lack of employment. The war is perpetuated by the needs of the politicians."

Mr. Nanayakkara said that 9 members of AFSMA met the LTTE in the Vanni on August 14, and talked to Mr. Thamil Chelvan. He provided Video tapes of the talks to journalists at the press conference.

Several members of AFSMA were present at the press conference.