The failed Thimphu talks

The failed Thimphu talks led by Rajiv Gandhi led a ceasefire between the LTTE and the Sinhala armed forces in 1985. This was followed by talks in The Bhutanese capital Thimphu in the same year. All Tamil groups participated. Other Tamil groups also accepted the LTTE’s demand for a solution to the national problem of the people of Tamil Eelam, recognizing the basic principles of Tamil nationalism, Tamil homeland and Tamil autonomy.

But the Sinhala government rejected the demand. Thus the complicated Thimphu talks broke down after Sinhala forces defied the ceasefire and attacked Trincomalee and Vavuniya, killing more than 200 Tamil people in the Tamil massacre. At this time, Leader Prabhakaran was discussing the positions of ceasefire talks with his commanders in Tamil Eelam. Balasingham, a political advisor to the LTTE, was deported from India following the failure of talks. This led to a major conflict and gap between President Prabhakaran and the Government of India.