Patten hoping to revive Sri Lanka peace process

EU external relations commissioner Chris Patten arrived in Sri Lanka today to strengthen efforts to resume stalled peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.

But there are some concerns about Mr Patten’s proposed meeting with Vellupillai Prabhakaran, the reclusive leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam, which Britain, the US and India have labelled a terrorist group.

Around 50 policemen from Sri Lanka’s elite anti-riot squad were patrolling outside Mr Patten’s hotel, fearing street protests by those opposed to concessions for the rebels.

Mr Patten was scheduled to meet with President Chandrika Kumaratunga today and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe tomorrow.

He is also scheduled to travel to rebel-held areas in the north tomorrow to meet with Prabhakaran who founded and leads the LTT, a separatist group that was embroiled in a 19-year civil war to establish a homeland in the north east for the country’s 3.2 million Tamils.

The Island newspaper said Mr Patten’s meeting with Prabhakaran would provide legitimacy to his leadership and be seen as a “great honour” to the rebel boss.

Prabhakaran, 48, has a posse of trusted cadres – and suicide bombers – known as the Black Tigers. They assassinated former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993. Prabhakaran was convicted in India for ordering the assassination of Mr Gandhi, who sent Indian troops over the border to crush the rebels.

Mr Patten’s visit was planned before a power struggle broke out between Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe on November 4. The two leaders are now talking, through their representatives, to see if they can agree on sharing power.

Kumaratunga has set a December 15 deadline to resolve the crisis that threatens to damage efforts to end the civil war. She moved earlier this month to curtail the Prime Minister’s power, taking control of three top ministries and suspending parliament.

She accuses him of making too many concessions to Prabhakaran, who she says is recruiting new troops in violation of a cease-fire agreement.

In a statement ahead of his trip, Mr Patten said he wanted to “express the continued commitment” of the EU to the peace process, and was confident that current problems could be overcome.

After visiting Sri Lanka, Mr Patten will travel to New Delhi where he will take part in an EU-India summit on Saturday.