Archives

LTTE postpones SIHRN meeting

by Ranga Jayasuriya

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) yesterday postponed the meeting of the Subcommittee on Immediate Humanitarian Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) scheduled for today and tomorrow.

In a letter to Peace Secretariat Director General Bernard Goonetilleke, who is also the head of the Government delegation on the SIHRN, LTTE political chief S. P. Thamilselvan said his organisation wants "tangible action on the ground" before the Subcommittee meetings resumed.

LTTE move came contrary to its previous stance that it would go ahead with the scheduled subcommittee meetings aimed at North-East reconstruction, rehabilitation and normalisation.

Peace Secretariat Chief Bernard Goonatilleke said the Government is now studying the LTTE political chief's letter adding it would respond to the LTTE concerns outlined in the letter.

"We are now studying the letter and issues outlined to take into consideration before the responding," he said.

Meanwhile diplomatic sources said the Norwegian peace facilitators are now trying to bring both parties back to negotiations.

"We are continuously in touch with both parties and looking into the matters which resulted in the suspension of talks," diplomatic sources told the Daily News.

Commenting on the postponement of SIHRN meeting, the diplomat said it was "unfortunate that the LTTE put off a meeting aimed at North East development and reconstruction."

Asked whether the facilitators contacted the LTTE following the suspension of talks, he said "yes", adding that "we are trying to bring talks back to the right track".

Outgoing Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg was to chair the postponed meeting. Thamilselvam in his letter said: we await action and implementation on urgent matters... of resettlement and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced People and of refugees," "We wish to implore the Government of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to act on matters already agreed at previous subcommittee meetings and ensure humanitarian and rehabilitation projects in the North-East are implemented enabling the return of normal life to the people living there."

The meeting was to focus on specific areas for the North East development identified by both parties in previous rounds of the talks. The areas are agriculture, fishing, reconstruction of the road network and irrigation.

The LTTE earlier suspended the main negotiations "for the time being" citing "displeasure over certain critical issues relating to the ongoing peace process".

There was, however, no indication that it would pull out of other subcommittees. The LTTE has vowed to stay within the negotiating process and honour the ceasefire.

LTTE peace secretariat chief Pulithevan has also informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that the working relationship between the SLMM and the LTTE remains unchanged.

Thamilselvan's letter to Goonetilleke concerning the SIHRN meeting was copied to Seiichiro Otsuka, Ambassador of Japan, M. Hans Brattsuar, Norway's new Ambassador to Colombo and Selvin Ireneuss, Director of SIHRN.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager