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| Monday, 15 September 2003 |
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Begin talks to ensure aid flow by Ranil Wijayapala Japan's Special Peace Envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi who flew to Kilinochchi yesterday insisted that the LTTE resume peace talks as the donor community expects a resumption of talks to see that the funds allocated for the reconstruction of the North East are properly used. Yasushi Akashi who flew to Kilinochchi last morning had lengthy discussions with LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan and LTTE Peace Secretariat chief S. Puleethevan to put the stalled peace talks back on track. However, LTTE Political Wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan remained adamant after Akashi's request and reiterated that the LTTE would enter peace talks or any other discussions if only the government accepts its Interim Administration proposals to have an interim government for the North East. Sources in the Wanni told the Daily News yesterday that Thamilselvan said the LTTE's Interim Administration proposals are still with the LTTE leadership and they will be handed over to the Government through the Norwegians by the end of this month.Thamilselvan has said the LTTE hopes that the Government would accept their proposals for Interim Administration in the North East. Akashi said that it was the stand of the Japanese Government and the international donor community to see that peace talks are back on track. According to sources in the Wanni, the discussion between Akashi and Thamilselvan lasted for nearly 90 minutes after commencing at 11 am. Responding to reporters' questions on the recent allegation against the LTTE about the construction of camps in Trincomalee, Thamilselvan has said that the LTTE doesn't want to construct such camps. "It is only the Opposition parties including JVP and the Sihala Urumaya are complaining about such camps. Neither the Sri Lanka Army nor the Government is complaining about such a move", Thamilselvan has said. During his visit to Kilinochchi Akashi also visited the site of the Kilinochchi hospital and the office of the Japanese Medical NGO AMDA in Kilinochchi. The 12 donor countries and seven international agencies that participated in the meeting reaffirmed their aid commitment to Sri Lanka despite the current impasse where the LTTE has temporarily withdrawn from the peace talks. Akashi arrived in Sri Lanka last Thursday and is due to meet President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga before he departs tomorrow. Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and Special Envoy Erik Solheim will also try to jump-start the negotiations when they visit Sri Lanka on September 17. M. A. Phakurdeen, our Addalaichenai group correspondent reported that Akashi accompanied by Japanese Ambassador Seiichiro Otsuka visited Kalmunai and Ampara to gain a first-hand understanding on the area. Akashi and the team who came here by a special helicopter, first visited Kalmunai Mahmood Balika Ladies College and attended a meeting with Muslim dignitaries and representatives of various Muslim Organisations including Ampara District Jemmiyathul Ulema Sabai. The discussions chaired by Minister of Ports Development, Shipping, Eastern Development, Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Rauf Hakeem was also attended by Digamadulla District SLMC MP, H. M. M. Harees and M. I. Anver Ismail. Later, Akashi met members of the Tamil and Muslim Community Peace Foundation together at the Kalmunai Divisional Secretariat where Digamadulla District MP Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru also participated. The Envoy's meeting with the Tamil community alone was held at Kalmunai Christian Illam under the aegis of MP Nehru. Representatives from various Tamil Organisations including the Tamil Maha Sabai Representatives also participated. Akashi and Otsuka were received by the Tamil community in the traditional way by anointing Pottu on their forehead. In the afternoon, the Japanese team headed by Akashi visited Ampara where they were welcomed by Minister of Health, Nutrition and Welfare P. Dayaratne. After the lunch hosted by Dayaratne, Akashi attended a meeting at the Ampara District Secretariat. At the District Secretariat, Government Agent Abeydheera Herath and Additional Government Agent Asanka Abeyratna received the Japanese diplomats in the traditional way offering them betel. Before winding up their programme in Ampara District, the delegation visited the Ampara Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Office and discussed the present situation. Akashi expressed happiness at meeting all three communities separately. Akashi said if real peace is to be achieved in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims must trust each other, win confidence and live together. This is how the world community wanted Sri Lanka's ethnic problem solved in a manner that all communities' desires and aspirations are fulfilled, he said. Minister Hakeem said that Akashi had promised to raise the problems faced by Muslims in the East with the LTTE leadership and find a solution in an amicable way. |
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