|
|
 |
| Sunday, 9 June 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Islands, sea route, sticking points by S. Selvakumar Norwegian officials are currently engaged with the LTTE in negotiations regarding two requirements the Tigers want fulfilled prior to direct peace talks in Thailand. While the Government has broadly indicated its readiness to deproscribe the LTTE, the Tiger leadership are additionally insisting on their demand to be able to open political offices on the Jaffna islands and also their right to use the eastern sea route between the Vanni and the Eastern region. In this regard a high ranking Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission team headed by SLMM chief Major General Trond Furuhovde met with the Jaffna military commander Major General Sarath Fonseka and LTTE political wing leader S. P. Thamilchelvam on Friday and yesterday. The Sri Lanka Navy is opposed to both and as regards to the first issue the Navy's stand is that the islands are high security areas and as such the LTTE cannot be allowed to operate political offices. SLMM Information Officer Teitur Torkelsson told the 'Sunday Observer' yesterday that extensive talks have been held and Norwegian team is expected in Colombo yesterday. He also said efforts are under way to solve these two issues soon. At the talks with Thamilchelvam yesterday Sea Tiger leader Soosai and high ranking LTTE political wing members Thangan, Pulithevan, Eelamaran and George also participated. According to reports from Killinochchi, the LTTE stand is that refusal to allow political offices in the islands and the sea route for them from the North to the East are a violation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and the Tigers. Following government announcement that the ban on LTTE would be lifted ten days prior to the peace talks proper commences in Thailand both sides are now actively engaged in preparing their teams, authoritative governmental sources said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
