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We will back any peace move that will not lead to separatism - JVP
The Sri Lankan Government is determined not to get pushed into a war by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam despite grave provocations, said a Sri Lankan parliamentarian from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). The party gives crucial support to the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

"This is a government, not a baby. We can't get angry at the LTTE's ceasefire violations. Although I cannot speak on behalf of the government I know from government sources and it is also our party's stand that the government will not start a war with the LTTE," said Bimal Ratnayake, who is also a member of the JVP's Central Committee.The party, which combines leftist ideology with a strong Sinhala nationalist identity, has been accused many times in the past two years of blocking efforts to find a solution to the ethnic conflict. But Mr. Ratnayake presented a more moderate picture of the JVP in a conversation with The Hindu here.

"We are for finding a solution through talks. That is our first way. When we see LTTE activities we have doubts if they will participate in a peace process, but as a government, it is our duty to talk," he said.

He said the ceasefire violations by the LTTE had led to many casualties for the military since last November, but the government and the military would not be provoked.

"Our target is to get peace without dividing the country as well as without a war. That's what we are trying to do. But it's up to the LTTE. If the LTTE declares a war, we are prepared, but that is not our hope," he said.
The JVP leader, who was in the city last week to attend a Cuba Solidarity conference, also said the LTTE was threatening war in order to get its way with the government, but was quite incapable of launching a large-scale attack because it was militarily far weaker now than four years ago following the Karuna rebellion.

"We think the LTTE has big troubles. They have almost lost the eastern province to Karuna. They can still kill hundreds of people by using bombs in civilian places. But in the military sense, they are now weaker. So now they are carrying out small attacks, and while that is happening, their media fronts are creating the image that the war will start any time. That way they are trying to make the Sri Lankan Government kneel down. We won't fall into that trap," he said.

The parliamentarian said there were "feelings" within the armed forces about soldiers getting killed almost on a daily basis in LTTE attacks. But, he said, they had faith in Mr. Rajapakse's government and in the Army commander.
"We have a disciplined Army. They have been educated about the politics also, and they have a good morale because of the new government's policies. There is no morale issue," he said.

The government was rebuilding its military intelligence which it had "completely lost" under Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was Prime Minister of a United National Party government in cohabitation with President Chandrika Kumaratunga between 2001 and 2004. Last week, an all-party conference attended by 15 Sri Lankan parties unanimously resolved that the government must resume peace talks with the LTTE as soon as possible. Mr. Ratnayake said the immediate task of the peace process was to restore democratic politics in the North-East. "The LTTE must agree to this. Without democracy and a multi-party system in the northern and eastern provinces, there can be no permanent solution to the Sri Lankan national question."

Defending his party's articulated stand against a solution along federal lines, Mr. Ratnayake said the JVP was "not targeting any particular structure."
"Our party stand is that we have to find a solution that is feasible and long-lasting, and it should not divide the people along ethnic lines. And the main basis for this has to be democratic rights and equality. If we accept federalism, will the LTTE accept it? Have they said this anywhere? According to our knowledge and experience, no. Their target is to have a separate state, through terrorism.

"Some in the international community, some NGOs in Sri Lanka and LTTE media fronts are always putting pressure on the government to give up its unitary structure. But those people haven't put pressure on the LTTE to give up their terrorist methods of doing politics. If [the LTTE] wants a federal solution, at least they have to say so."

He said a select committee in the all-party conference would work out a "common understanding" on a solution within "one Sri Lanka." "If the LTTE agrees on that kind of solution whatever that might be, and if the Sri Lankan people adopt that in a referendum, then there will be no problem from the JVP. We will respect always the people's mandate."

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