Contents

War and peace
Contents

Page
Introduction v

Chapter I: The Rise of Tamil Nationalism
And Armed Struggle 1

Historical Background to the Ethnic Conflict 1
British Colonialism and the Tamils 3
State Oppression Against Tamils 6
Tamil National Movement and the Federal party 9
The Satyagraha Campaign 13
JVP’s Insurrection 15
Political Violence of the Tamil Youth 18
The Birth and Growth of the Liberation Tigers 21
Popular Mandate for Secession 27
LTTE Comes to Light 30
Cataclysmic Racial Upheaval 36

Chapter II: Indian Intervention in Sri Lanka 45

The Negative Critique 45
India’s Strategic Concerns 49
Indian Training of LTTE Cadres 54
The Strategy Behind India’s Involvement 59
The War of Liberation Escalates 62
New Administration in Delhi 65
LTTE Joins ENLF 70
The Thimpu Talks 77
The Bangalore Talks 85
Operation Liberation 94
The Indo-Sri Lankan Accord 97
‘We Love India’ Speech 110
Why The Accord Failed 114
Pirapa’s Letters to Rajiv 122

Chapter III: Premadasa – LTTE Talks 137

– Adele Balasingham

Unrest in the North and South 140
Invitation to Peace Talks 144
Meeting With Premadasa 146
An Army of Occupation 150
The Role of Mr. Hameed 154
Delhi’s Critique of Talks 157
Meeting Pirapaharan in the Jungle 160
Acrimony between Delhi and Colombo 167
Confrontationist Course 171
Request for Armed Assistance 175
LTTE’s Political Party 178
Meeting Karunanidhi in Chennai 183
Conference in Vaharai 187
LTTE’s Strategy and Premadasa’s Agenda 189

Chapter IV: Jaffna Peace Talks
Pirapa – Chandrika Letters 195

A Hidden Agenda 195
Chandrika’s Peace Initiative 200
A Low-key Government Team 210
Economic Blockade as Central Issue 215
The Joint Statement 218
Contradictions in Perceptions 224
A Provocative Letter From Ratwatte 230
The Issue Of Foreign Delegates 257
A Fragile Peace 265
LTTE Confers With Foreign Delegates 273
Chandrika Takes Hardline Position 283
Controversy Over French Intermediary 292
LTTE Issues Deadline 300
The Fourth Round of Talks 317
Chandrika Repeats The Promises 323
Reflection On Failure of Talks 333

Chapter V: Norwegian Facilitated Peace Talks 341

LTTE’s Peace Gesture 341
‘Fire Flame’: The Decisive Battle 348
New Government in Colombo 352
A Mutually Agreed Ceasefire 358
Meeting Pirapaharan in Vanni 363
Meetings with Milinda Morogoda 370
Inauguration of Talks 375
First Session of Talks 381
Second Session of Peace Talks 386
Oslo Donor Conference 391
Third Session of Talks 400
Exploring Federal Solution 403
Self-Determination: Internal and External 405
The Controversy Over High Security Zones 408
Fourth Session of Talks 414
Fifth Session of Talks 418
A Major Incident at Sea 423
Sixth Session of Talks 426
LTTE Decides to Boycott Talks 429
Demand for An Interim Administrative Set-up 444
Critical Appraisal of the Peace Talks 461