The Clinton administration should think twice in rejecting an appeal of Tamil separatist guerillas to mediate in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. President Bill Clinton may want to devote more time on his re-election campaign, but the war-torn island needs no more bloodshed. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has proven resilient. Its recent successful raids on government bases on the Jaffna peninsula can attest. For the Tamil minorities to form a highly autonomous regional government in Sri Lanka would not be a bad idea.
Both Colombo and the Tamil Tigers may be ready to start peace talks, but they do not trust each other. The United States should take up the challenge to mediate, for the sake of peace.
Washington may be making a big mistake in supplying arms to Colombo and training government troops through a private agency. It would seem wishful thinking if Washington reckons that government troops alone could bring the Tamil Tigers to their knees. The more sensible route would be for the Clinton administration to bring both Colombo government and the guerillas to the negotiating table and hammer out a perpetual peace accord.
