LTTE leaders return amid peace hopes

Two key Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders involved in peace talks with the Sri Lankan government yesterday returned to the areas dominated by them in the northern part of the country determined to get their members to fulfill the commitments made at the negotiating table.

LTTE's political wing leader, S.P. Thamil Chelvam and one of its area commanders, V. Muralitharan alias 'Karuna', who arrived in Sri Lanka overnight left for the northern Wanni region by a military transport helicopter.

The two men who arrived from Bangkok around midnight Tuesday were transferred to a hotel closer to the airport after being welcomed at the airport by Norwegian diplomats.

Their journey via Colombo and taking of a military helicopter was seen by diplomats as a sign of growing confidence between the two sides that are officially still foes.

Karuna and Chelvam told journalists travelling with them from Thailand that they were pleased with the second round of peace talks that wrapped up in Thailand on Sunday with three crucial agreements.

"We went with hope, we are returning with optimism," Karuna said.

Both Chelvam and Karuna have been entrusted with more responsibilities and will be working closely with Sri Lankan government and military officials on a range of issues varying from security to rehabilitation.

Karuna, who spearheaded a series of military operations against the security forces and was responsible for ordering the round-up and massacre of a large number of policemen since the Nineties, has been assigned to lead a committee which will be dealing with security, including preventing clashes between his cadres and the security forces.

Chelvam has been included in a team which will be entrusted with drawing up a comprehensive plan seeking international aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-ravaged northern and eastern parts of the country.

Karuna will have to speak to his members and ensure that they maintain cordial relations with the security forces and the police commandos known as the Special Task Forces (STF).

Karuna will be working closely with the military and the STF in the eastern province and will be assisting the committees set up in the east to maintain peace and cordial relations with the communities there.

STF chief DIG Nimal Gunatillake will be meeting Karuna in the eastern Batticaloa district tomorrow. Both sides will focus on the issues discussed at the peace talks in Thailand.

Meanwhile, LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham has left for London and will be making preparations from there for the upcoming aid pledging meeting in Oslo where the government and the LTTE will be appealing for international aid to rebuild the war affected areas.