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| Friday, 23 January 2004 |
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LTTE boycotts donor meeting for third time by Ranga Jayasuriya The LTTE will not attend today's donor meeting in Colombo, a follow up to the Tokyo donor conference, attributing its non-attendance to "political instability" in the South. Meeting visiting Japanese special envoy Yasushi Akashi in Kilinochchi, LTTE political chief S.P. Thamilselvam turned down an invitation to attend the donor meeting saying that given the current political impasse, the LTTE's participation would "cast doubts in the minds of the Tamils". This will however be the third time, the LTTE boycotts a donor meeting since its unilateral suspension of the peace talks in April last year. Under the Oslo declaration signed in October 2002, the Government and the LTTE agreed to work together in the reconstruction and development of the North-East. In June last year, the Tigers boycotted the Tokyo Donor Conference accusing the Government of marginalising it before the international community and demanding an interim administrative structure for the North-East. LTTE's boycott drew fire from the US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage who said that the Tigers should not be allowed to "blackmail" the international community. Later, in mid September, the LTTE boycotted a follow up meeting to the Tokyo conference. Akashi who is in Sri Lanka on a week long visit, will chair today's donor meeting expected to be attended by representatives from 50 countries and agencies. A spokesman for the LTTE political headquarters in Kilinochchi said Akashi and Thamilselvam discussed the SLFP-JVP alliance and the "disturbing political differences" between the President and the Prime Minister. He quoted Akashi as saying that the SLFP-JVP alliance "introduces a new complexity to Sri Lanka". The spokesman said Akashi told Thamilselvam that the donor community is concerned about the recent political developments, while urging the LTTE to commit itself for a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Akashi expressed hopes that the two heads of government could shed their differences and will be able to speak with one voice, which will help resume peace negotiations. Meanwhile the LTTE's official web site (www.lttepeacesecretariat.com) quoted Akashi as saying that the international community is concerned about the plight of the people in the North-East, in a reference to the slow progress of resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the North-East. Thamilselvam expressed disappointment that the non-implementation of the provisions of the ceasefire agreement has deprived the people of the North-East of the peace dividends. "Thamilselvam drew specific reference to a historical phenomenon that is the deception that the Tamil people met with whenever their national problem was put on-board for negotiations," the LTTE web site said however adding that the Tamils feel optimistic this time due to the active role played by the international community in the peace process. Akashi said that Japan will continue to support the peace process and provide urgent humanitarian needs. Akashi met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday. He is scheduled to meet President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga today. |
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