London, Feb 06: Britain urged Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels to renounce "terrorist methods" and join the "democratic mainstream" in the island nation, where they are battling to avoid defeat after decades of conflict.
London, Feb 06: Britain urged Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels to renounce "terrorist methods" and join the "democratic mainstream" in the island nation, where they are battling to avoid defeat after decades of conflict.Junior Foreign Minister Bill Rammell renewed a call for a ceasefire between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), whose leaders have been offered an amnesty if they surrender.
"Our position remains that a political solution that addresses the legitimate concerns of all communities is the only way to bring a sustainable end to the conflict," he said in a parliamentary debate on the conflict.
"We urge the LTTE to renounce terrorist methods and to demonstrate a genuine commitment to participate in a democratic political process to resolve the conflict.”
He added, "The LTTE should be doing all it can to protect civilians... We call on those who have influence over the LTTE also to encourage them to enter the democratic mainstream."
The comments came as the Sri Lankan government offered an amnesty to Tamil Tiger rebels who surrender, but rejected international appeals for ceasefire talks and vowed to crush those who fight on.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told Parliament that some rebels were ready to lay down their arms as they faced imminent defeat in their decades-long battle for an independent ethnic Tamil homeland.
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