BBC News [Thursday, 18 March, 2004, 17:00 GMT]: Kumaratunga gives Tigers warning
//In a BBC interview, Mrs Kumaratunga said that after elections so be held on 2 April, the government of Sri Lanka would have to deal with the accepted head of the rebel movement, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

But she said the government would also have to find ways and means of dealing with the renegade commander.

President Kumaratunga said various attempts had been made by Colonel Karuna to contact her - but she said she did not normally like underhand dealings.//

The Hindu [Monday, Apr 05, 2004]: A mandate for economic issues rather than peace process By V.S. Sambandan
//The second stage of restarting talks with the Tigers would involve issues such as the LTTE's insistence that it be accepted as the "sole representative" of the Tamils. Opponents of the Tigers are emphatic that particularly after last month's split, the Tigers could no longer make such a claim. The UPFA has kept the option open on inclusiveness by stating that separate discussions would be with other groups as a practical way out.//

The problem with the media like The Hindu and The Hindustan times are, with the news they spit their opinions too. Usually they have a way to give their opinions. Anonymous "experts", "analysts" and "civilian sources" come for their support. When one reads their opinions and news, these "experts" tell what The Godfather wants; "If I want your opinion I'll give it to you."

Another way is giving a vague statement like, "The UPFA has kept the option open on inclusiveness by stating that separate discussions would be with other groups as a practical way out." When one searches in the net (and in the printed materials), it is hard to find a UPFA spokesperson responsibily states this stand on record. However, The Hindu says it in its column as it is stated by a responsible UPFA spokesperson. [Similar opinion will appear in many of other Indian media soon.] - The Signaling mode. After making this stand firm, then in couple of days the media will go to the phase, "I wanted your opinion, I gave it to you; CONFIRM IT." - The Push mode. Then will appear a UPFA spokesperson to confirm this in the third and final phase - The Assertation mode.

Also read 27 March 2004 Frontline on Batticaloa living anonymous Jaffna Tamil and Batticaloa Tamil point of views on LTTE spilit and election support, and again look what happened in the wake of Rajan Sathiyamoorthy's death (expect the suspicion by the media and allegation by Karuna group on LTTE, it is still not clear who killed him); certain sections of Jaffna Tamils were expelled from Batticaloa.