|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 21 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Security | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
President Kumaratunga shows desire to move forward on peace process: US urges LTTE to cease killings, return to talks Hard on the heels of the European Union's unequivocal condemnation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for its political killing spree, the United States yesterday urged the group to cease political assassinations, suicide bombings and recruitment of child soldiers and resume peace talks with the Government. The call was made by the US State Department amid a spate of political assassinations blamed on the LTTE including Monday's slaying of EPDP Media Secretary Kandasamy Iyer Balanadarajah. The LTTE has also been blamed for killing PLOTE Mohan in Colombo and eight youths from a rival group at a house in Kottawa in the last few weeks. Several of its political opponents were also gunned down in the East. Last month, a suicide bomber who initially targeted Minister Douglas Devananda blew herself up at the Kollupitiya Police station, killing four policemen. Noting that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had shown a desire to move forward on the peace process launched with a 2002 ceasefire, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli said the LTTE "needs to respond positively and enter talks with the Sri Lankan Government". "The ceasefire and a return to negotiations represent the best hope for Sri Lanka's future as a peaceful, prosperous, and unified nation," he said. "Assassinations and suicide bombings are unacceptable. The recruitment of child soldiers must cease," Ereli added. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had reviewed the situation in Sri Lanka with US Ambassador in Colombo Jeffrey Lunstead, including "the recurring acts of violence such as assassinations and suicide bombings. "In light of this discussion, we urge the parties to take steps to work to rebuild trust and schedule the promised talks as soon as possible," Ereli added. Ereli said the United States stood ready to implement commitments to aid in Sri Lanka's reconstruction "but this will only be possible through a continuation of the peace process." He added that "real progress towards peace and an end to violence in word and deed" could begin the process of the LTTE's entering the political mainstream. Following the breakaway of its former Eastern leader Karuna, the Tigers have been reportedly behind a spate of killings of rivals in the East and in Colombo. Diplomats say the murders undermine Norway's attempts to broker peace in Sri Lanka. Earlier, the European Union also called on the LTTE to enter negotiations with the Government without delay. The statement was issued after a meeting between LTTE political chief S.P. Thamilselvam and Netherlands Ambassador Susan Blankhart, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans and Charge d'Affaires of the European Commission Wouter Wilton in Kilinochchi. Netherlands retains the current presidency of the EU. "These killings, abductions and child recruitment are not conducive to an atmosphere in which peace negotiations can be re-started. The EU urges the LTTE to restrain from any action that might provoke disruption of the ceasefire and allow unimpeded continuation of the activities of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission," the EU Ambassadors said. "The EU is concerned and alarmed about the recent increase in political killings and the inability of the LTTE to solve internal differences in a peaceful manner. Despite promising signs in April, that the LTTE was taking serious its pledge to release the children in its ranks, recruitment has been accelerated both in the North and East during the last couple of months," they said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
