'Political settlement with LTTE must dash Tamil Eelam dream'

Disapproving any ceasefire with the LTTE, a Sri Lankan opposition Marxist party on Wednesday said that any political solution to the conflict must "completely dash" rebel dream of a separate Tamil Eelam.

"There should be no ceasefire agreement with the LTTE as only a small portion of area remains with the Tiger rebels which would also be captured," opposition JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said.

Stressing that the rebels would be "finished" soon, he said that Tiger rebels must be "completely" disarmed "to ensure the LTTE doesn't restart the confrontation against the security forces and the government."

Any such agreement is irrelevant at this point of time when the Tigers are on the brink of total defeat, he said.

Herath said the acceptable political solution should be aimed at "completely dashing" any dream of the LTTE for a separate Tamil Eelam.

"The dream of the LTTE for a separate Tamil Eelam should be made completely unsuccessful through the political solution," he said.

The JVP leader said while his party hugely welcomed the military victory of the security forces over the LTTE, but is was also important to find a viable political solution.

"We should not only win against LTTE military but also politically through a flawless political solution to the whole issue," he said.

Stressing that the political solution should address the needs of the Tamil civilians, Herath said the military success against LTTE should be followed by a political solution that carried a clear political message for the welfare of the Tamils.

Herath said the Pro-tiger Tamil National Alliance (TNA) party should ask the LTTE to release civilians held in their controlled areas.

"The TNA should pressurise LTTE to release the civilians to ensure people are able to freely move into the liberated areas," Herath said.

Herath said the Tamil civilians in the Wanni wanted to mix and maintain close ties with the Sinhalese and people of other communities but the LTTE was preventing them from doing so.

"The only obstacle for the Tamils in Wanni for free mingling and having good relations with the Sinhalese and other people has been LTTE," Herath said adding the TNA could contribute by persuading the Tiger rebels not to prevent the people from moving out of the rebel held areas.