COLOMBO, DEC 30: Ten moderate Tamil parties in a joint statement have urged India, the United States and other countries to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to accept the unilateral ceasefire announced by rebels.``The US, Britain, India, members of the European Union and other countries interested in solving the conflict in Sri Lanka should exert pressure on the Lankan Government to bring an end to the war,'' said leaders of the 10 parties who met here yesterday.
The rebels, fighting for an independent Tamil homeland in the North and east, announced a month-long ceasefire beginning Sunday. But the government rejected the truce.
The military accused the rebels of violating the ceasefire twice last week by firing mortar shells at government's northern defences.
``The Sri Lankan government should respond favourably to the call by the LTTE for a ceasefire," said a statement by the umbrella group of Tamil parties.
Most moderate parties believe that the Tamils should stay in Sri Lanka, but they must have greater regional autonomy.
They fear that the current deadlock in the Norwegian-mediated peace process may scuttle the chances of a negotiated settlement to the war.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
