The leader of the Tamil Tigers, Velupillai Prabhakaran, stated that he is willing to negotiate with the central government and accept autonomy for Tamils instead of complete independence. In a broadcast on Tamil Tigers Radio, he mentioned that he would accept comprehensive regional autonomy for the Tamil people. However, he added that if this proposal is rejected, Tamils have no choice but to seek separation and establish an independent country. This statement comes as the rebels and the Sri Lankan central government are set to begin the third round of negotiations, mediated by Norway in Oslo, in a week.
Tamil Rebels Accept Autonomy - 2002-11-27
The leader of the Tamil Tigers has expressed a willingness to accept regional autonomy for Tamils instead of full independence during upcoming negotiations with the Sri Lankan government. This development is significant as it indicates a potential shift in the rebels' stance amid ongoing peace talks.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The leader of the Tamil Tigers, Velupillai Prabhakaran, announced a willingness to negotiate for regional autonomy for Tamils instead of complete independence during upcoming peace talks with the Sri Lankan government. This marks a potential shift in the rebels' stance as they prepare for negotiations mediated by Norway.
- Prabhakaran's statement was made on Tamil Tigers Radio.
- The third round of negotiations is set to take place in Oslo.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Sri Lankan civil war has been marked by a struggle between the majority Sinhalese government and the Tamil minority, leading to decades of conflict. The Tamil Tigers have sought an independent Tamil Eelam but are now considering autonomy as a compromise.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%