Date : 2004-06-25

LTTE suddenly cancelled tomorrow's meeting with Sri Lanka armed forces.

Colombo, 25 June: The meeting schedule to be held for tomorrow, Saturday morning 9 am at Akkaraipattun in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka between, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the delegation of Sri Lanka's Special Task Force and the Police is cancelled suddenly.

Reason for the cancellation is not known.

It was reported that LTTE yesterday agreed to resume its regular meetings with Government forces in Batticaloa and Ampara - according to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) spokesperson Disa Finnboga.

But today Disa Finnaboga said to "Asian Tribune" that the SLMM received a communication from the political office of the LTTE at Ampara "canceling" the proposed meeting agreed earlier to be held for tomorrow.

The SLMM spokesperson said that LTTE has not given any reason for the cancellation of the schedule meeting.

The positive move for the meeting with the Sri Lankan armed forces came only a day after the LTTE said it was putting off meetings with the security forces in protest against alleged government harboring of dissident leader Colonel Karuna Amman.

It is understood that now LTTE is caught up in two minds and they have yet to make a final decision on the future of Peace Talks in the country.

However it is said that the ceasefire is still holding in the country.

Meanwhile Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim is expected to arrive in Colombo on Monday as part of efforts to salvage the island's peace process amid fears of renewed fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels,

Erik Solheim is expected to be in Sri Lanka on a for a four-day visit during which he will meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the head of Tigers' political division S.Paramu Thamilselvan.

The sudden cancellation of the talks by the LTTE points to the rebel outfit hardening it position and it is not clear as to how far Erik Soheim might be able to convince the outfit for the resumption of talks with the Government of Sri Lanka.

As the Tamil Tigers suddenly cancelled the scheduled meeting to be held for tomorrow, observers said that the position of the rebel outfit is becoming murkier and murkier and suddenly they have turned out to be more unpredictable.

http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10119

தகவலுக்கு நன்றி தாத்தா எங்கப்பன் குதிருக்குள் இல்லை என்பவர்களுடன் எப்படி பிரச்சனைகளை மனம்விட்டுப் பேசுவது

சரி விருப்பமில்லாட்டில் நீங்கள் பேசவேண்டாம்.. எனக்கும் அது நல்லதாப்படுது.. இப்படியே ஒரு 20-30 வருஷம் இருந்தாலே போதும்.. எல்லாருக்கும் நன்மை..

:P

I acted on Ramesh's advice - Ali Zahir Moulana

My action (bringing Karuna to Colombo) was on the request of the LTTE area leader Ramesh and I advised Karuna that he should give way as a direct confrontation would endanger life and property of the civilians who have still to recover from the ravages of war, former MP S. Ali Zahir Moulana has stated in his letter of resignation.

In the letter which was released to the media yesterday, Moulana said Karuna requested him to render assistance to move to Colombo in order to move out of Sri Lanka.

"As I value and uphold the principles in respecting the Temple of Democracy - the Parliament, I sanctify having decided to tender my resignation, as I do not wish to be an obstacle to the process of peace in embarrassing any individual(s), group, party or parties, but make way to all those who are sincerely dedicated to finding and finalising a lasting and workable peace formula to our Nation," he said.

His letter: "Having supported and activated my participation in the aftermath of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), humanely I built a working rapport with the 3 Ks' namely - M/s Karikalan, Kaushalyan, Karuna & Ramesh.

"Confidence bridging resulted in resolving issues relating to the day-to- day problems of civilians, and led to development activities, which included the resumption of the Rail-link from Batticaloa and Colombo, and re-opening the A5 Highway.

The Batticaloa district was a model concept of peaceful co-existence taking into consideration its multi-ethnicity.

"After the dissolution of Parliament and in the interim period, an unfortunate situation erupted, which estranged the Eastern Leader - Karuna from the LTTE hierarchy. I received a call from Mr. Ramesh stating that he was the successor to Mr. Karuna, and wanted me to prevail upon Mr. Karuna to leave the country.

I told Mr. Ramesh that I have no contact with Mr. Karuna, other than the working context, which had by then halted, and pledged to Mr. Ramesh that should I have the opportunity to contact Mr. Karuna, I would certainly pass the message.

"In the backdrop, Mr. Karuna contacted me, and I advised Mr. Karuna to leave Sri Lanka, which would permit those involved with the peace process to continue devoid of embarrassment. After some days, and the flare-up during the National New Year Holidays, Mr. Karuna requested me to render him assistance to move to Colombo in order to move out of Sri Lanka.

Due to the closure and not having had access to many during that particular period of the month - April, I assisted him to reach Colombo, to make his exit, as per his acceptance. My action was based on humanitarian grounds, at the request of the present LTTE Area Leader and Mr. Karuna heeding, too.

However, I categorically deny having offered him sanctuary in any direct or indirect manner at any stage of time, to date.

"Soon thereafter, I informed Mr. Ramesh, of my having fulfilled his request. From recent reports, sadly, I understand that confusion prevails on the whereabouts of Mr. Karuna, who is said to be yet within the territory of Sri Lanka.

"It has been reported that a breakaway faction from Mr. Karuna's entity had revealed my name to the LTTE, which is the cause of much embarrassment. "I for one, have always advocated governance to be implemented devoid of regional, communal and confrontational politics, least to say mud-slinging.

"I wish to reiterate that my intention was good and absolutely sincere and genuine.

I thank my Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for having rendered guidance at all times, the office-bearers of the United National Party, my worthy supporters for having stood with me at all times and to all my colleagues and staff in Parliament, least to say my personal staff including officials of the security staff, friends and members of my family."

http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/06/26/sec01.html

என்ன தாத்த டக்ளஸ் தாந்து செய்கைக்குப் பொறுப்பேற்று பதவி விலகவேண்டும் அல்லது மேலிடத்தால் விலக்கப்படவேண்டும் அதுதான் எதிர்காலச் சமாதானப்பேச்சுவார்த்தைகள் சுமுகமாக நடக்க வழிவகுக்கும் என கட்சியின் தூண்களால் நெருக்குதல் கொடுக்கப்படுகிறதாமே

பாவம் பட்டுவேட்டிக் கனவில் இருக்க கட்டியிருந்த கோவணமும் களவில் போனதாம்

என்ன தாத்த டக்ளஸ் தாந்து செய்கைக்குப் பொறுப்பேற்று பதவி விலகவேண்டும் அல்லது மேலிடத்தால் விலக்கப்படவேண்டும் அதுதான் எதிர்காலச் சமாதானப்பேச்சுவார்த்தைகள் சுமுகமாக நடக்க வழிவகுக்கும் என கட்சியின் தூண்களால் நெருக்குதல் கொடுக்கப்படுகிறதாமே

பாவம் பட்டுவேட்டிக் கனவில் இருக்க கட்டியிருந்த கோவணமும் களவில் போனதாம்

ஈழவன்.. அது குருவியின் மற்றீறியல்.. அவர் Flash News பகுதியில்போடும்வரை காத்திருந்து பின்னர் அதற்கான பதிலை எழுதுவோம் என காத்திருந்தேன்.. நீங்கள் முந்திவிட்டீர்கள்.. எனவே பதில்..

இவங்கள் காரியக்குருடு மாத்திரமல்ல காரியச் செவிடும்கூட.... ஆனானப்பட்ட சந்திரிகாவே தான் கருணாவுடனான காரியாலய தொடர்பை வைத்திருக்கிறேன் என அறிக்கைவிட்டடது மறந்துபோய்விட்டதா.. அப்படி எல்லோரும் ஆளாளுக்கு தொடர்புகளை வைத்துக்கொண்டு வேட்டியை அவிழ்.. கோவணத்தை கட்டு என்று சொல்லுவாரென கனவுகாண்கிறார்கள்..

:P

உவன் அத்தியடிக்குத்தியன் மட்டக்களப்பிலையும் மூக்கு நுழைக்கலாம் எண்டு கனவு காணுறான் போலை ராசீக்கு செத்துப் போனதோடை உவருக்குக் குளிர் விட்டிட்டுது

ஜனநாயக நீரோட்டமாம் ஜனநாயக நீரோட்டம்...ர்

அதாரப்பா ராசீக்கு.. எத்தனை வயது.. என்னமாதிரி செத்தவன்..?

வல்லை ராசிக் குழுவைச் சொல்கிறார் என நினைக்கிறேன்

Iraq Sovereignty Handover Brought Forward to Today (Update1)

June 28 (Bloomberg) -- Iraq's interim government took power today, two days earlier than scheduled, a step Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said will show that the administration is ready to tackle terrorists trying to undermine it.

Paul Bremer, the top U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, handed over ``legal authority'' to Iraq's chief justice in a ceremony this morning, Victoria Whitford, a spokeswoman for the coalition forces in Baghdad, said in a telephone interview.

``Even before June 30, I believe that we will challenge these terrorists, the criminals, the Saddamists and anti-democratic forces by bringing even the date of the handover of sovereignty forward as a sign that we are ready,'' Zebari said after a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair at a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Istanbul.

The alliance may respond to a request from the Iraqi government by agreeing to help with training Iraqi security forces. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said yesterday the organization's help would contribute to ending insurgencies against the U.S. occupiers and the Iraqi government.

Blair said an announcement on the handover will come later today. Blair is due to meet U.S. President George W. Bush this afternoon.

``But the important thing to understand from now on is that Iraq controls its own destiny'' he said. ``We are there to help and support from now on.''

Increasing Violence

Violence has been increasing in recent days as the U.S. prepares to hand over authority to the temporary government headed by Ayad Allawi. More than 100 people died and 300 were injured in bomb attacks in Baghdad and four other Iraqi cities on Thursday. On Saturday, a car bomb killed 23 Iraqi civilians south of Baghdad. This morning a U.S. marine and three U.K. soldiers were reported killed.

``This is a hugely important struggle on behalf not just of the people of Iraq but the wider world,'' Blair said. ``We have got to do everything we can by way of training and equipment and support.''

To contact the reporter on this story:

Rob Hutton in Istanbul at Rhutton1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:

Catherine Hickley in Istanbul at chickley@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 28, 2004 03:26 EDT

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1...fM&refer=europe

Tigers refuse talks with military

The government admits some army members helped Karuna

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have refused to resume regular talks with the country's military, accusing it of harbouring a renegade rebel leader.

Col Karuna led an abortive breakaway in the east this year and then went underground in April.

The Sri Lankan government admitted last week that elements within the military had supported Col Karuna.

Diplomatic sources say the Norwegian-led peace monitors are deeply concerned with the Tigers' withdrawal.

Deputy head of the monitoring team, Hagrup Haukland, met the Tigers' political wing leader, SP Thamilselvan, on Monday to try to solve the dispute.

Mr Haukland said: "We had hoped the [Tamil Tigers] would change their mind, but this was not so."

Mr Thamilselvan said: "The future of the ceasefire agreement and the peace talks is not in our hands now. It is in the hands of the Sri Lankan army, truce monitors and the Norwegian [peace] facilitators."

Covert war

On the pro-rebel Tamilnet web site, the Tigers said they had "indubitable proof that [Col Karuna] is working with the Sri Lankan military intelligence".

Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim is due back in Colombo

"The Tigers will not recommence meetings with the Sri Lankan army while the government and its military continue to harbour Karuna and continue to instigate murder and confusion in [the eastern district of] Batticaloa."

Col Karuna broke from the mainstream Tamil Tigers four months ago to set up a separate regime in the east but after a brief spell of internecine fighting he vanished.

The government admitted members of the army helped him escape and wage a covert war of attrition against the Tamil Tigers.

It said it had happened without government knowledge.

The Tigers have since refused to resume security talks on day-to-day issues concerning the ceasefire, which has held since February 2002.

Mr Haukland said: "[This] complicates our role and things at a local level... I don't think it will jeopardise the [ceasefire] agreement but it does make things difficult."

Norway's peace envoy, Erik Solheim, was due to arrive in Colombo later on Monday to try to breathe new life into a peace process that faltered when the Tigers walked out in April last year.

They said the government was not honouring pledges on progress in the north and east.

The Tigers have been fighting for two decades for a separate homeland in those areas.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asi...sia/3847733.stm

தமிழோசை

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tamil/tam_ca.ram

*** நீக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மட். மாவட்டத்தில் தேச விரோதிகள் ஏழு பேர் விடுதலைப்புலிகளால் கைது

[ மட்டக்களப்பு ஈழநாதம் ஸ ஜ புதன்கிழமை, 30 யுூன் 2004, 7:47 ஈழம் ]

மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்தில் சிறிலங்காப் படைப் புலனாய்வுப் பிரிவின் உதவியுடன் தேச விரோத நடவடிக்கையில் ஈடுபட்டு வந்த கருணா கும்பலைச் சேர்ந்த ஏழு நபர்கள் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப்புலிகளால் கைது செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

இவர்களிடமிருந்து கைத்துப்பாக்கிகள், கைக்குண்டுகள், தொலைத்தொடர்புச் சாதனங்கள், கையடக்கத் தொலைபேசிகள் என்பனவும் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டன.

இது தொடர்பாக மேலும் தெரியவருவதாவது:-

மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்தில் சமீப காலமாக இடம்பெற்று வந்த தேசவிரோத நடவடிக்கைகளில் ஈடுபட்டு வந்த இந்நபர்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் கட்டுப்பாட்டுப் பிரதேசமான திக்கோடை, தும்பங்கேணி, பகுதியில் ஒரு குழுவாகவும், இராணுவக் கட்டுப்பாட்டுப் பிரதேசமான களுதாவளை, கல்லாறு, களுவாஞ்சிகுடி பிரதேசத்தில் மற்றொரு குழுவாகவும் இயங்கி வந்துள்ளதாகத் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.

மேற்படி நபர்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகளிடம் விசாரணைகளின் மூலம் தெரிவித்த தகவல்களின் படி சிறிலங்காப் படை புலனாய்வுத் துறையினரும் கருணாவும் சம்பந்தப்பட்டிருப்பது தெரியவந்துள்ளதுடன், சிறிலங்கா விசேட அதிரடிப்படையினருக்கோ அல்லது சிறிலங்காப் பொலிசாருக்கோ தெரியா வண்ணமே இந்நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வந்ததாகவும் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.

இதேவேளை கைது செய்யப்பட்டவர்கள் வழங்கிய தகவல்களில் பல உண்மைகள் தெரியவந்துள்ளதாக விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் வட்டாரங்கள் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளன.

படங்கள்: மட்டக்களப்பு ஈழநாதம்

நன்றி புதினம், யாழ் இணையம்

Local-Foreigner Tussles Plague De-mining in Sri Lanka

Champika Liyanaarachchi

OneWorld South Asia

29 June 2004

COLOMBO, June 29 (OneWorld) - The latest attack on a foreign de-mining organization in Sri Lanka has brought to the fore the resentment against such groups, which are accused of ill-treating local employees and overpricing their services.

Last week's attack on a British nongovernmental organization (NGO) working in the North, the Halo Trust, came at a time when it was facing criticism for laying off dozens of locals and not compensating employees adequately for work related accidents.

Disgruntled locals are believed to have engineered the attack with the help of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The trust has been under pressure from the LTTE to shift its office to the eastern district of Trincomalee. This is reportedly partly because the Tamil Tigers fear that foreign spies may enter the region under the guise of working for the NGO.

The trust is funded by several governments, including those of Japan, Germany, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands.

Last week, a group of armed men barged into the office of the Halo Trust in the northern capital city of Jaffna and assaulted three employees and set fire to some vehicles.

A spokesman for the Halo Trust maintains, "We are investigating the attack are not in a position to reveal anything." He says 90 locals trained by the trust are working for it.

Interestingly, the assault occurred during the Unicef-coordinated Mine Risk Education (MRE) week – June 21-27 --, in which exhibitions and lectures were conducted in the region on avoiding mine explosions, especially among school children.

Since 1995, about 660 mine explosions in the war torn northern and eastern provinces have killed and maimed thousands. De-mining is key to the safe rehabilitation of around 800,000 people who have been displaced by two decades of conflict.

Last month, the Jaffna District Mine Action Operational Headquarters announced 2006 as the deadline for clearing all the mines in the district of Jaffna, where 60 percent of the mines are believed to be buried.

But authorities specified that the deadline was viable only if the present truce with the LTTE lasted and adequate funds continued coming in.

Says the spokesman for Halo Trust "We think the teams here can reach the deadline of 2006 if work is not hampered."

Disagrees Nanda Godage, the chairman of the de-mining unit of the local NGO Milinda Moragoda Institute of People Empowerment. "Setting deadlines for de-mining is unrealistic. Especially since we don't know how many mines are there," he avers.

But foreign teams say they aim to destroy all the one million mines that are reportedly buried in Sri Lanka. Interestingly, no one knows where this figure came from and local NGOs feel foreign groups are exaggerating the number to gain more donor funds.

Advocates Godage, "A more scientific method of ascertaining the number of mines is necessary. According to our calculations, the number of mines buried in Sri Lanka is less than half a million."

The project run by Godage's organization charges US $3 per square meter for de-mining, in contrast to foreign teams, some of which extract between $25 and $30 for a square meter.

Asserts the head of a leading NGO in Jaffna, "Everybody should condemn the attack on the Halo Trust. But authorities should probe what these (foreign) mine action teams are doing here because de-mining appears to have become a lucrative business."

He charges that several foreign teams are making big money and "have fleets of vehicles" but seem to be doing little work.

Among the foreign groups actively engaged in de-mining is a Danish team that has cleared about 8,000 square kilometers in North of Jaffna in the last four months, and the residents of these areas are now allowed to resettle.

Sri Lanka Army personnel trained by the American organization RONCO are also engaged in de-mining in the North. The army is believed to have buried mines in 3,000 sites and had provided details of these to local authorities following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the government and rebels in February 2002.

The largest NGO operating in the North and East, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, recently charged that there was a move to resettle civilians in un-cleared areas in a bid to make it appear like the resettlement process was on track.

http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/88962/1/

Sri Lanka: No Progress Expected In Restarting Peace Talks

By Neville de Silva - Diplomatic Editor,, Asian Tribune

Colombo 30 June: Prospects of resuming the stalled Sri Lankan peace process in the near future appear dim, despite the continuing efforts of the Norwegian facilitators, diplomatic sources said in Colombo.

Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim who arrived in Colombo Monday night is due to hold talks with the political wing leader of the separatist Tamil Tigers S.P. Thamilselvan in their jungle headquarters today (Tuesday) to narrow the differences that now stand in the way of kick-starting the talks that came to a standstill when the Tigers suspended discussions with the then Sri Lanka government in April last year.

However diplomatic sources in Colombo who did not want to be named, said they saw little chance of the Norwegian special envoy achieving any breakthrough given fresh impediments that have exacerbated feelings between the Tigers and the Colombo Government.

The Tigers this week told the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that keeps an eye on compliance with the ceasefire agreement between the two sides, that it would boycott truce monitoring meetings with the Sri Lanka Army, accusing it of habouring and helping a breakaway faction of the Tigers from the Eastern province.

The Tigers claim that the Eastern province rebel leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias "Colonel" Karuna is being used by the Sri Lanka army to wage war against Tiger cadres.

"We have very reliable evidence that the Sri Lanka army is using Karuna as a pretext to murder and to create mayhem in Batticaloa," Thamilselvan was quoted as saying.

SLMM representatives who rushed to the rebel held area to try and resolve the issue were told that breakaway faction leader Karuna should be handed over to the Tigers.

This new factor has complicated an already difficult situation, diplomatic sources said, adding that they do not expect any breakthrough in Erik Solheim's current mission.

He is due to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Opposition Leader and former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during his stay.

The Tigers insist that any resumption of talks must be on the basis of their proposal last year for establishing an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) which an important component of the present coalition government headed by President Kumaratunga has rejected as totally unacceptable.

Last December the European Union's External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said during a visit to Sri Lanka, that the Tiger proposal for self government went far beyond any federal structure anywhere and also contravened the Oslo Declaration reached between the Sri Lanka Government and the Tamil Tigers.

The Colombo government's position is that the ISGA proposals cannot be discussed in isolation and negotiations should be conducted on the core issues such as the central question of devolution of power at the same time or even earlier, to work out a final solution.

The Tigers have been making threatening noises about a return to war.

Colombo's Sunday Times said this week that despite the ceasefire, the Tigers are strengthening their military machine.

In its front page lead item the Sunday Times said that the Tigers have now advertised in newspapers in the north calling for recruits to join a 1,500 strong auxiliary force that will form part of its armed militia.

"We will provide the military training and place them in various LTTE projects, but when the need arises we use them for fighting,” The Tigers "Police chief" was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile the UN agency Unicef has slammed the Tigers for accelerating the recruitment of child soldiers, despite a pledge given in April that they would release the child soldiers already in their ranks.

"This cannot continue any longer. These children must be released immediately and steps taken at the highest levels of the LTTE to ensure children are no longer taken by the organization," Ted Chaiban, Unicef Representative in Sri Lanka was quoted as saying.

- Asian Tribune -

http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10178

Both sides in Sri Lanka war cling to landmines

30 Jun 2004

By Dan Caspersz

A danger sign marks a minefield.

Photo by DAN CASPERSZ

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka (AlertNet) - It is two years since the Sri Lankan government and separatist rebels agreed a ceasefire, and people want to go home even though the peace is fragile, but the country is littered with dangerous landmines.

Although both sides are clearing mines, neither government forces nor the Tamil Tiger armed movement is prepared to promise not to lay any more.

"We still need landmines to defend our bases. They provide us with an early warning of an enemy attack," Major Peiris of the Sri Lankan army told AlertNet.

Some 64,000 people were killed during two decades of bloody civil war, and an estimated 380,000 people are still displaced.

NGOs say that an estimated 1.5 million landmines strewn across the war-torn north and east are one of the biggest obstacles to families going home.

Most of the mines are in the north, where the heaviest fighting took place and both sides used mines to fortify their positions as they wrestled over territory.

During the conflict Major Peiris' regiment laid mines. Now they are removing them, but he is still convinced their military use is justified.

Speaking in Jaffna, Peiris said: "Until there’s a permanent peaceful solution we can’t stop using mines."

The Jaffna peninsula is controlled by the Sri Lankan army, who maintain a large presence there.

FIERCEST FIGHTING

The peninsula has been the scene of the fiercest fighting over the years as control has passed from the army to the Tigers and then back again, with the civilian population caught in the crossfire.

There are more mines in the Jaffna peninsula than in the rest of Sri Lanka combined.

Peiris is noticeably young for a senior officer -- in his mid to late 30s -- but he commands the Sri Lankan army 6th Field Engineering Regiment, and after nine years of active service, he is a veteran of the war.

"We’re fighting a war against terrorists, not conventional troops," he said.

There is an uneasy calm in Jaffna.

The Tamil Tiger logo –- a roaring tiger framed by guns -- is sprayed onto walls and unarmed female Tiger fighters walk the streets openly.

Every second building in the town is riddled with bullet-holes.

Many buildings have been completely obliterated by artillery and airstrikes, with just a wall or two standing awkwardly.

TIGER TERRITORY

The army will not allow the government to agree to a landmine ban.

A U.N. official in Sri Lanka said the army had receipts for the purchase of 1.3 million anti-personnel mines and estimated 400,000 of them had still not been used.

The Jaffna peninsula is an island linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway, cut off by Tiger territory.

A minimum of several hours' journey from Jaffna, Kilinochchi is the capital of the self-proclaimed Tamil state, deep in the jungle.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting a guerrilla war to establish "Tamil Eelam", an independent state for the Tamil people, who are a minority ethnic community compared to the majority Singhalese population.

Entering Tiger territory means passing through no man’s land, a single road between vast minefields, going through Tamil Eelam customs, answering the brusque questions of border guards, and signing paperwork in triplicate.

There is a Tamil Eelam police force, law courts, schools and a Tamil Eelam bank.

Tamil Tiger fighters maintain a discreet but unmistakeable presence. They wear distinctive tiger-striped uniforms and carry AK47s.

The movement has proven itself a ruthless and feared guerrilla force, but after years of conflict and military deadlock, its leaders are giving peace a go.

The Tamil Tiger spokesman in Kilinochchi is Daya Master, a small man with bright eyes.

'IMPORTANT MILITARY TOOL'

Young men with walkie-talkies stood by as Daya Master spoke softly but firmly, a massive portrait of the Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on the wall behind him.

"The Sri Lankan government needs to initiate an end to the use of landmines," Daya Master told AlertNet.

"Only after that can we start thinking about it too," he said

"Landmines are an important military tool that we use to good effect on the battlefield."

More than 1,000 locally recruited deminers work for specialist mine clearance NGOs in Sri Lanka, and the government army employs a further 300 soldiers in full-time mine clearance.

The work is slow and dangerous, and complicated by the division of the north into government and rebel-controlled areas.

The Tamil Tigers have provided 600 de-miners to clear land for civilian resettlement in the swathe of territory they control across the north and pockets in the east.

Although the Sri Lankan government pledged in 2003 to clear the country of mines by the end of 2006, the prospects look bleak.

"The Sri Lankan army used this school as a base during the war, " Maria Vathanie, who works for NGO Save the Children's mine risk education programme told AlertNet, pointing to a red sign by the playground of Lingapuram Saraswady Primary School, near Trincomalee, in eastern Sri Lanka.

PLAYING NEAR MINES

Many of the children at are too young to read the words "Danger! Mines!", but the message is clear from the skull and crossbones.

There is a minefield next to the school.

"They’ve marked the minefields, but they haven’t removed any of the mines yet," she said.

Landmines are not on the agenda in negotiations, and foreign funding for mine clearance is severely limited by both sides' failure to agree a landmine ban.

Until the mines are cleared, hundreds of thousands of people remain in camps.

Those that can return are terrorised by mines all around them, around their homes, on their farming land and by their schools.

"Sri Lanka will never be completely free of landmines. There will always be one more mine that we haven’t got to," Paul Mackintosh of the Danish Demining Group told AlertNet.

But with landmines, the number of landmines is less important than where they are.

"Our target is to have areas critical to the return of refugees cleared by the end of 2006," he said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thefacts/reliefres...08859227592.htm

Sri Lanka rebels issue ultimatum for reviving peace talks+

Associated Press, Wed June 30, 2004 09:37 EDT . - - COLOMBO, June 30 (Kyodo) Sri Lanka - 's Tamil Tiger rebels on Wednesday accused the Colombo government of sheltering a renegade rebel leader and warned that the cease-fire agreement that halted Asia's longest running conflict for over two years has been endangered as a result.

S.P. Thamilchelvan, head of the political division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, conveyed the position to Norway's special peace envoy, Erik Solheim, who is in Sri Lanka - to step up efforts to revive the peace process stalled since April last year.

''If the Sri Lankan president and the government are serious about the cease-fire agreement and the peace talks, they should stop sheltering Karuna and backing the murder and mayhem some of his henchmen are indulging in Batticaloa,'' Thamilchelvan told reporters after a meeting with Solheim in rebel-held Kilinochchi in the north.

Karuna, the LTTE's battle-hardened eastern commander who goes by one name, broke away from the LTTE in April and has gone underground. His supporters, retaining a hit-and-run capability in the east, have been attacking the Tigers.

Although the LTTE swiftly quelled the rebellion, killing scores of Karuna loyalists, the renegade leader's forces are estimated to have killed at least 40 LTTE fighters in the initial battle and subsequent hit-and-run raids.

Thamilchelvan, who accused military intelligence of protecting Karuna and a group who accompanied him to Colombo, told reporters that his side made its position known to the Norwegians ''very clearly and firmly.''

Solheim admitted that there was no major breakthrough during talks with the LTTE in Kilinochchi, which followed meetings in Colombo with Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, government officials and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

''There is no major breakthrough I can speak of at the moment, but we as facilitators are working hard to bring both parties to the negotiating table soon,'' he said.

There has been speculation in the local press that Karuna, who left eastern Batticaloa earlier this month accompanied by loyalists and a lawmaker belonging to the opposition United National Party, has already left the country, possibly for India. There has been no confirmation of such rumors.

Thamilchelvan said the Norwegians conveyed a message from Wickremesinghe to the LTTE saying neither the UNP nor its leaders knew of Karuna's ''involvement'' with a UNP lawmaker who brought him to Colombo. This parliamentarian resigned his seat in the legislature when his role in bringing Karuna to the capital became public.

http://www.theacademic.org/#10886057660

ஜனாதிபதியோ அரசாங்கமோ இதுவரை எதனையும் உத்தியோகபூர்வமாக அறிவிக்கவில்லை: தமிழ்ச்செல்வன்

[ வன்னியிலிருந்து கிருபா ] [ புதன்கிழமை, 30 யுூன் 2004, 18:27 ஈழம் ]

இடைக்கால நிர்வாக தன்னாட்சி அதிகார சபை ஒன்றை உருவாக்குதற்கான அடிப்படையில் இருந்தே சமாதானப் பேச்சுக்கள் ஆரம்பிக்கப்படும் என்று ஜனாதிபதியோ அரசாங்கமோ இதுவரை நோர்வேத் தரப்பிற்கு அதிகாரபூர்வமாக அறிவிக்வி;ல்லையென தமிழீழ விடுதலைப்லிகளின் அரசியல் துறைப் பொறுப்பாளர் திரு.சு.ப.தமிழ்ச்செல்வன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்

சமாதானப் பேச்சுவார்த்தையை ஆரம்பிப்பதற்கான அரசாங்கத்தின் நடவடிக்கை மீதுள்ள அதிருப்தியை நோர்வேத் து}துக்குழுவிற்கு இன்று தெரியப்படுத்தியுள்ளோம். பேச்சுக்களை ஆரம்பிப்பது அரசாங்கத்தின் கைகளிலேயே தங்கியுள்ளது என்று தமிழ்செல்வன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

விமானப்படைக்கு சொந்தமான விசேட உலங்குவானு}ர்தி மூலம் காலை 10 மணிக்கு கிளிநொச்சி வந்தடைந்த நோர்வே அனுசரணையாளர் குழுவினர் காலை 11.00 மணியளவில் விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் பிரதிநிதிகளை அரசியல் துறை நடுவப்பணியகத்தில் சந்தித்து கலந்துரையாடினர்.

இச்சந்திப்பானது இரண்டு மணிநேரம் நடைபெற்றது. விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் தரப்பில் அரசியல் துறைப் பொறுப்பாளர் சு.ப.தமிழ்ச்செல்வன் சமாதானப் பேச்சுவார்த்தைக் குழுவில் இணைக்கப்பட்ட காவல்துறைப் பொறுப்பாளர் திரு.பா.நடேசன,; சமாதானச் செயலகப் பணிப்பாளர் திரு.புலித்தேவன் ஆகியோர் பங்குபற்றினர்.

நோர்வே அனுசரணையாளர் தரப்பில் திரு.எரிக் சொல்ஹெய்ம், சிறிலங்காவிற்கான நோர்வேத் து}துவர் திரு.ஹான்ஸ் பிரஸ்கர் ஆகியோர் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

இச்சந்திப்பின் பின்னர் ஊடகவியலாளரின் கேள்விகளுக்கு திரு.சு.ப.தமிழ்ச்செல்வன் வழங்கிய பதில்கள் வருமாறு:-

கருணாவை வைத்துக்கொண்டு சமாதான முயற்சிகளையும் யுத்த நிறுத்த உடன்படிக்கையையும் குழப்புவதை அரசாங்கம் நிறுத்த வேண்டும் அவர் உருவாக்கிய புதிய நெருக்கடியை அரசாங்கமே முடிவுக்கு கொண்டுவரவேண்டும் என்பதனை இச்சந்திப்பின் மூலம் நோர்வே அனுசரணையாளர் ஊடாக தெரிவித்திருக்கிறோம்.

ஏந்த அடிப்படையில் சமாதானப் பேச்சுவார்த்தையை ஆரம்பிக்க புலிகள் தயாராக இருக்கின்றார்கள் என்பதை ஏற்கனவே கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. எங்கள் நிலைப்பாடு தெளிவானதும் உறுதியானதும் அவ்வப்போது ஊடகங்கள் மூலமாகவும் தெளிவுபடுத்தி வருகின்றோம் ஆகவே பேச்சுக்களை ஆரம்பிப்பதற்கான முழுப்பொறுப்பும் அரசாங்கத்தின் கைகளிலேயே தங்கியுள்ளது.

நோர்வே அனுசரணையாளர்கள் அதனை விளங்கிக்கொண்டிருக்கின்றார

LTTE rebel Leader Karuna to register his political party within the next two weeks?

Alladin Hussein in Colombo, June 30, 2004, 10.50 p.m.. LTTE's renegade Leader V. Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman is expected to register his new political party with the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake within the first two weeks of July.

Sources claimed that Karuna's party might contest the next general election. However unconfirmed reports stated that the he has chosen "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam-Karuna faction", as the name of his new political party. Several of his close associates have been appointed to the party's hierarchy.

The Eelam Peoples Democratic Party, which has openly criticised the LTTE, has been advising Karuna on the pros and cons of a political career, which Karuna has been keen to embark on since he left the LTTE.

http://www.theacademic.org/#10886142920

Karuna to register his political party within the next two weeks?

:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

ம்ம்...... எங்கே சொல்லும் இந்த பாதை..... யார் தான் அறிவாரோ.......... :?: :?: :arrow:

தாத்தா மட்டும் அறிவார்

வீடுகொளுத்திற ராசாவிற்கு கொள்ளி கொடுக்கிற மந்திரி இவர்தானே

Bringing politics to the fore to contain Karuna

By: J. S. Tissainayagam

Source: Northeastern Monthly - July 1, 2004

Though not certain at the time of writing, the visit of Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim to meet the LTTE is not expected to render much positive result. This follows the meeting head of the SLMM General Trond Furhovde had with the chief of the LTTE’s political wing S. P. Thamilchelvan on 28 June, where the Tigers had reiterated their position that meetings between the Sri Lanka army and the LTTE in the Batticaloa-Amparai region would recommence only if the army "gave up Karuna."

At a time when high-level talks have not recommenced after the LTTE withdrew from them in April 2003, meetings at the local level between area commanders are seen as ways of smoothening tensions in trouble spots and implementing the Ceasefire Agreement. Therefore, the withdrawal of the Tigers from these meetings indicates their frame of mind.

Despite LTTE pressure, President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her government are unlikely to sacrifice Karuna now. To them it would appear as bad as withdrawing from Palaly base without a murmur, or handing over an entire squadron of Kfirs to the enemy. The government believes the dearest wish of everyone from local Sinhala nationalists to international ant-terror groups could be accomplished by this individual - that of bifurcating the east and north.

They also believe that with Karuna supporting the government they could appear generous regarding interim administration for the northeast knowing full well three matters: a) if the east is bifurcated from the north due to the Karuna factor the core Tamil demand of a contiguous Tamil homeland encompassing the north and east would evaporate into thin air, B) if indeed an interim administration is given to the LTTE it will only have to be the north, since the east would be separate and c) without the east the LTTE would not be in a position to bargain for the implementation of the ISGA proposals as they are now.

Kumaratunga's statement when speaking to Solheim on 29 June that the government is prepared to take up the matter regarding an interim administration on the basis of the ISGA proposals, before talking on substantive issues, stems from this standpoint. It is not a dramatic gesture of goodwill but a well thought out tactical move.

For his part, Karuna very probably realises that his unrivalled knowledge of the terrain of the northeast as well as weapon systems, troop strengths and the other military assets of the LTTE would be a hindrance to the Tigers to recommence war since the innate secrecy with which the organisation traditionally operated stands exposed.

Second, he also probably realises that the LTTE's presence in the east is not yielding the results expected by that organisation, partly due to its political mishandling of the situation and partly because his popularity as the son of the soil cannot be easily rivalled.

Knowing this Karuna is reportedly registering a political party. It would be the best way to capitalise on the above two factors. He could exploit his popularity among the easterners by saying he is not for war but for a democratic solution to the ethnic problem in the east. This would isolate the LTTE as the only armed guerrilla movement that persists in finding a solution through arms or threat of arms.

At the same time Karuna would, like EPDP leader Douglas Devananda and others, debilitate the LTTE by directing a war of attrition at it. It is usually not realised when Devanada thunders about the LTTE wanting to bump him off that his role as a leader of a political party in parliament is only one of the hats he wears. The other is as part of the government's military apparatus, while enjoying the status and security cover of a political leader. Karuna too no doubt perceives the advantages of this.

The LTTE's way of undermining Karuna's popularity has been to portray his links with the Sri Lanka military, especially its intelligence. This campaign no doubt got its biggest boost when Neelaveni and three other female members who once supported Karuna testified to the close connections he had with the military. It throws up the question even in the most regional-minded easterners: "Did our hero quit the LTTE citing high moral principles only to fall in the hands of our oppressors?"

Though this writer maintains the Jaffna-Batticaloa rivalry largely plagues the minds of the Batticaloa middle-class that populate the halls of academe, the businesses and till lately sections of the media, those who are sensitive to the way people think and feel in the east are critical of the role the Tigers have played in the east in the past decade or so, because they failed to politically conscientise the general public on what the Tamil struggle was about. It was believed the existence of a common enemy - the Sinhala army - was enough of a uniting factor.

But that lasted only as long as the war was on and oppression, abuse and torture were the lot of the eastern Tamil. What has gradually vanished from the political discourse is the question of Tamil nationalism, which among other aspects emphasises an overarching unity that encompasses Tamil-speakers from all over Sri Lanka and indeed the world. It is into this vacuum that sections of the Batticaloa middle-class, especially those active in the university, have been pumping regionalist sentiments. It is feared that unless a concerted effort is made to arrest this trend the more unsavoury sentiments unleashed by the Karuna rebellion might entrench itself in larger and larger groups of Batticaloa society.

The LTTE's refusal to cooperate with the government even on local-level talks automatically brings to bear enormous pressure on the other negotiating party and the facilitators. The pressure could also translate into continuing reluctance on the part of western governments to release aid pledged to the tune US $ 4.5 billion. The LTTE did the same thing in April last year due to the UNF government's move to bring in the international community - especially the US and Japan - into the talks thereby upsetting the balance or parity between the two sides at the negotiating table.

Though harbouring Karuna is the immediate reason for the LTTE to take up such a hard-line position against the government, there are strong international (or regional) currents that are indirectly exerting pressure on the progress of matters concerning war and peace. An influential section of the Tamil lobby seems to believe that with the defence agreement with India due to be signed, the floodgates would be opened of for military support that includes weapons, training and espionage, to flow into this country. They believe an attempt must be made by the Tamils to persuade India to review its ties with the Sri Lanka government, which could only be done by the LTTE giving up some of its political demands.

However, transfer of weaponry, military hardware and training is nothing new to Sri Lanka. India, Pakistan, US, Britain and China are among those who have regularly supplied weapons to this country. They have also trained the local military, shared intelligence, as well as had input in working out strategic and tactical matters. However, whatever the foreign input might be, it is the Sri Lankan soldier who fights. Therefore, though the defence agreement with India might yield a lot in training, equipment and so on, the raw material on deployment remains the same. Therefore, whether matters have hit such a nadir that the LTTE has to give up on its political demands is questionable.

Meanwhile, the UNF has, quietly but consistently held out its willingness to negotiate on the ISGA proposals. Unlike in the case of the UPFA, which vacillates, the UNF has never said it will not negotiate on the basis of the ISGA. The UNF is also the link to the western democracies, which though tolerant of the regime now installed in power in Colombo are not necessarily well disposed towards it - especially the JVP. However, after the drubbing it got in the hands of the Sinhala electorate for being too generous towards the Tamils, the UNF might not be as forthcoming as it was before to negotiate on matters concerning the Tamils. Similarly, the UNF has become the champion of the Buddhist monks in parliament and it is well known the JHU opposes the ISGA.

But for the UNF to become an active part of the picture it has to be in government, not in the opposition. The question is: do the Tamil parties, including the CWC, play politics with the UPFA knowing well that neither short- nor long-term peace can be guaranteed because the main focus of the UPFA is changing the constitution, or to work with the intention of bringing to an end the present regime. This will not only help resolving the ethnic problem but see that some sort of sanity returns to Sri Lanka as a whole.

"Road maps to peace in Sri Lanka" - WAPS organised conference in August in Oslo

The World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS) would hold an international conference "Road maps to peace in Sri Lanka" on Friday the 20th August, at Kongressenter, Folkets hus, (Peoples House) located at Oslo Norway.

According to the organizers the purpose of holding the conference is for the purpose of the creation of an unbiased forum where international terrorist experts, human rights organizations and experts with local knowledge and experience meet with Norwegian politicians, authorities and organizations working in the conflict area.

According to the press statement of WAPS:

"As terrorism does not limit itself to countries or continent so is the subject matter of the conference. Through speaker's expertise, innovative abilities and competence, the conference place an international focus on consequences of terrorism."

"At the same time, the forum presents an in-depth analysis of consequences of Norway's policies in the Sri Lanka conflict and towards terrorism in general. We identify the positive and negative aspects in the Norwegian peace negotiations and foreign aid."

It is said according to the organizers, that the carefully selected speakers, the topics scheduled will make this event the most interesting within the category anti-terrorism, peace and human rights this year. The topics selected for discussions at the conference and the speakers are as follows:

Norway and Terrorism

* The controversial Norwegian role in the Sri Lanka conflict.

* The liberal Norwegian asylum polices towards known terrorists.

* The lack of enforcement of International anti-terrorism laws and regulations

* Has Norway become a terrorist safe haven and an ideal location for funding and organization of international crime and terrorism?

Overview of the Origins of the Conflict

* Speaker - H L D Mahindapala ( Former Editor of Sri Lanka's Sunday Observer - Australia)

LTTE's Use and institutionalization of Suicide Terrorism

* Speaker - Dr. Peter Chalk, Rand Organisation (USA)

Is Confidence Building / Appeasing the Path to Peace in Sri Lanka?

* Speaker - Paul Harris (UK) The Impact of LTTE Terrorism on Sri Lankan Society

* The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of LTTE terrorism on Sri Lankan society in general and Tamil society in particular The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been engaged in a terrorist war against the Sri Lankan state demanding an ethnically exclusive Tamil separate state. LTTE grew rapidly during the 1980s and rose to a formidable force with territorial control in the 1990s and today it is proscribed in many countries including USA, India and UK.

LTTE terror strategies involves threat and intimidation, torture, assassinations, mass murders, suicide bombing, ethnic cleansing and destruction of sacred religious and cultural site, infrastructure and economic assets. The LTTE terrorism has driven international investment away from Sri Lanka and the government has to spend about 5% of GDP to protect the state and its citizens from LTTE terrorism thus depriving the country of development investment. LTTE terrorism during a period of over 20 years has negatively impacted upon all spheres of life in the Sri Lanka society in general and the Tamil society in particular.

* Speaker - Prof. Shantha Hennayake (Sri Lanka)

The Image of Norway as a Peace-Maker in Sri Lanka

* Speaker yet to be confirmed

Norway, A 25 Year Odyssey From Sympathizer to Colonial Intruder

* Speaker - Dr. Susantha Goonatilake (Sri Lanka)

- Asian Tribune -

The World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS) was established in December 2002. The alliance membership consists of several community organizations in Australia, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy and the Pacific Region committed to safeguarding the unitary state and sovereignty of Sri Lanka, protecting human rights, and defeating terrorism in Sri Lanka.

http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10232

Norway to brief India of the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka.

Jan Petersen, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs

New Delhi, 06 July: Jan Petersen, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs will visit India today accompanied by a high ranking 5 member official delegation and he is expected to discuss with the Indian leaders the deteriorating situation fast unfolding in Sri Lanka.

According to the official press release of the India's Ministry of External Affairs, "Mr Jan Petersen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Norway will pay a one-day official visit to India on July 6, 2004."

Petersen when he meets K Natwar Singh - India's External Affairs Minister and the National Security Adviser J N Dixit separately he is expected brief them of the steps Norway had so far taken to jumpstart the stalled peace process in Sri Lanka.

Petersen is to bring to the notice of Natwar Singh, and J.N.Dixit of the contradictory positions adopted by Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga had already pointed out to the Norwegian facilitators including Petersen when he met her on 12 May in Colombo, that her Government is interested in arriving at a comprehensive and a sustainable solution to the decade's long ethnic conflict and she had also indicated that priority would be given for talks about the Interim administration in the North East.

Meanwhile when Petersen met Velupillai Prabakaran, Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on 11 May at Kilinochchi, though he came forward to restart the peace process he had suddenly come up with the condition that the Government should institutionalize the Interim Self-Governing Authority based on the proposal put forward by them.

At present, it is observed that the Tamil outfit had put aside the Interim Self-Governing Authority proposal and began to heap allegations on the Sri Lanka Army as well as the Government as they are harboring the renegade leader Colonel Karuna Amman and the Sri Lanka Army is trying to upset the military balance in the Eastern region of Sri Lanka.

The situation in Sri Lanka where there is a growing tension unfolding in the wake of the failure of the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government is expected to dominate Jan Petersen talks with the Indian leaders.

Meanwhile, Erik Solheim , Norway's special envoy was expected to accompany Jan Petersen to New Delhi, but he is visiting to London today to meet the Anton Balasingham, Chief Negotiator of the Tamil Tigers to brief him of the details of the talks he had with Chandrika Kumaratunga, on 01 July.

It is said that he had already met Nirupam Sen, Indian High Commissioner in Colombo on Thursday 01 July, after meeting the President of Sri Lanka and briefed him of his talks with S. Paramu Thamilselvan, Head of the Political division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam when he met him on 30 June at Kilinochchi and about his meeting on the following day with Chandrika Kumaratunga.

While he took the first opportunity to leave for London, Jan Petersen who will be meeting the Indian leaders today at New Delhi is expected "have comprehensive exchange of views" according to the press release of the External Affairs Ministry of India.

According to the Press release :

"Natwar Singh and Petersen are also expected to sign a bilateral agreement to establish a joint commission of cooperation. The commission will be co-chaired by the foreign ministers."

"Petersen will also hold discussions with Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath."

"Bilateral trade between India and Norway stood at $215 million in 2003. Norway is the world's third largest oil exporter."

- Asian Tribune -

http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10255