Tigers mute as Sri Lanka’s peace hopes dim

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers remained mute on peace talks offered by the new president whom they had dubbed the "war candidate" while a pro-rebel newspaper said Sunday new talks were not on the cards.







Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers remained mute on peace talks offered by the new president whom they had dubbed the "war candidate" while a pro-rebel newspaper said Sunday new talks were not on the cards. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had not responded Sunday to President Mahinda Rajapakse's offer of direct talks, which he made as he took office the previous day after narrowly winning last week's election.

The pro-rebel Uthayan newspaper in an editorial posted on the LTTE website, said the Sinhalese majority had all but voted for war by failing to elect ex-premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, who began the current peace process in 2002.

"Through electing a head who refused to accept that a just and permanent solution to one of the peoples of this island is an absolute necessity, the Sinhala nation has exposed its innermost feelings," the Uthayan said.

"Majoritarian chauvinism has come shining through.

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In his campaign, Rajapakse called for an overhaul of the Norway-backed talks with