Time for a cease-fire

Even if the fall of Jaffna may not be imminent, it is time for the Sri Lankan Government to come to terms with ground realities. Because of the numbers and the recently-enhanced air power, the government troops have put up a stiff resistance to a determined Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the past fortnight. If the LTTE decides to damage the runway at the Palali air base and the port at Kankesanthurai, the soldiers could be trapped.

It seems unlikely that the Tamil Tigers will give up till they wrest Jaffna from the Sri Lankan Government's control. But the fall of Jaffna will do no good to Colombo, New Delhi or even the Sri Lankan Tamils in the peninsula. The fast-paced developments this week and the frequent meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security in New Delhi tell their own tale on what lies ahead in Sri Lanka. The disappointment and frustration of the island's President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, in her interview to this newspaper is understandable. She must realize that without a professional armed force, a thinking leadership and motivated soldiers, it is difficult to prosecute a war for two decades on the run. The continuing desertions in the ranks and frequent changes at the top confirm this malaise.

The best way out of the present imbroglio is to work for a cease-fire. Apparently, the Norwegian initiative to facilitate a return to the peace process has not made much of a headway. Colombo is now thinking of a multilateral diplomatic effort, including India, to restart negotiations between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. For that to happen, a cessation of hostilities is a pre-condition.

It now appears inevitable for India to get involved once more in Sri Lanka's ethnic tangle. But the center is right in ruling out any military intervention, though Ms. Kumaratunga is obviously disappointed at this stance. Her hope that India has the influence with the LTTE to bring it to the negotiating table may be misplaced. But if the UN, the U.S. and the European Union throw their weight behind this multilateral initiative and exert pressure on the LTTE, which functions out of many European cities and Canada among others, it may at least begin talks about talks. The starting point right now will be a cease-fire.

-- The Hindu, New Delhi