It is quite heartening and surprising that the Sri Lankan President Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunga, who has all along been critical of the peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE and who alleged lack of transparency regarding peace talks between the government (read Prime Minister) and President's Office (read 'her'), has mersaulted and gave her support for the peace talks. Not only did she and her party insisted that the peace negotiation should continue further but also agreed to the formation of Interim Administration in North and East where Tamils are dominant in population. Those who follow the peace talks would appreciate the fact that this demand of LTTE posed a threat to continuing the dialogue. This major bottleneck was cleared by the offer of Sri Lankan President to set-up an interim administration in the North and the East, much to the surprise of political observers and even the LTTE. It is a very smart move and it has completely taken the LTTE by surprise. This is evident from the fact that for the past 3 days (since the offer was announced by Chandrika Kumaratunga) there is no response from LTTE and its political advisor Anton Balasingham.  

The announcement from Chandrika is considered a diplomacy of higher order not due to the fact that it pushed the LTTE on a defensive corner but this is considered so in light of the "Aid Lanka" donors' conference to be held in Tokyo on Monday (June 9, 2003) aimed at generating pledges for $3 billions for the reconstruction of Sri Lanka. This is a strong signal to the International community that Sri Lankan Government and its President ( read as "the ruling and opposition parties") are on one side when it comes to bringing peace to the trouble-torn Island. The prime Minister and his party should realize a fact that LTTE wanted to create a wedge between the government and its President. It looked successful to a certain extent as the Prime Minister and President were talking in different languages. LTTE thought that its demand for an Interim Administration would be considered unreasonable by the President and she would not allow her Prime Minister to concede this. LTTE for whatever reason it thought fit wants to scuttle the peace negotiations or wants the peace negotiations to fail. Probably, bringing peace is not the ultimate goal of LTTE and it might have just wanted to buy time to consolidate itself to spring back with its trade-mark gorilla attack.

Burying the political enmity and not being lured by narrow political gains, the Sri Lankan government has started speaking in one tone with regard to the ongoing peace initiative of its Prime Minister. Ranil Wickremesinghe would also do well if he does not end up as the puppet of LTTE in his eagerness to settle political scores with the President. Chandrika achieved three things in a single stroke- she projected herself as a great states(wo)man by aligning with the government on peace talks burying the political differences and projected a unified picture of her government to the International community, contained the ruling party and her Prime Minister in their mad rush for creating history (read 'achieving peace in Island') at any cost and thereby took full control of peace talks, thirdly she put LTTE in a spot, thoroughly embarrassed LTTE, and rightly hoping to expose LTTE's true colours.

With the announcement of Chandrika on Interim Administration, LTTE is really singled out in this game and it is now upto LTTE and its leader to show their full commitment to uplift the Tamils in the Island. Already LTTE is on the wrong side as it resorted to violence and political murders for almost two decades in the name of uplifting Tamils. Now, after having walked together with the government a few miles on the peace path (partcipating in six rounds of peace talks in the last 15 months ever since the ceasefire was declared in February last year), if it withdraws itself it would further tarnish its image in the International scene. Not only that, its genuine demands would also go unnoticed. In this modern age, international support is very much required if one is fighting for a major political transformation.  

Of course, the offer of interim administration also has few strings attached to it. It is not unconditional. The conditions are - giving up the demand for a separate Tamil Elam, giving up the violence, allowing other Tamil parties to participate in the Interim Administration to be set-up in North and East of the Island, and allowing the due rights of Muslims and other minorities in the administration. None of these conditions are unreasonable. If LTTE finds any of these conditions unacceptable, it only exposes its hidden agenda. In such a situation, the President by her smart move would have succeeded in distancing the LTTE from the innocent Tamils who truly believe until now that LTTE is fighting for their cause. Whatever be the response of LTTE, Chandrika Kumaratunga is clearly positioned herself in a win-win situation and LTTE is clearly in a catch-22 situation.