|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 30 June 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
'LTTE, Govt, must meet MoU commitments' The National Peace Council is urging the Government and the LTTE to fulfil their commitments made in the Ceasefire Agreement in order to further build confidence in the peace process. A Peace Council communique said: "While people in the north and south want the ceasefire to continue, they have different views and concerns about it. For instance, southern concerns focus on LTTE arms shipments, recruitment of new cadre including the forcible recruitment of children, and the extortion of funds from the civilian population. There is apprehension that the LTTE is taking these steps to strengthen themselves militarily for the next round of fighting. "On the other hand, northern concerns, as manifested in the Hartal in the north and east earlier this week focus on the government's failure to implement important aspects of the ceasefire agreement. High on the list of grievances is the role that the security forces continue to play in setting up military checkpoints and their continued occupation of schools and public buildings. People from the north express their apprehension about the large scale cutting down of coconut and palmyrah trees, and see in it a consolidation of the army presence in Jaffna. "The National Peace Council calls on both the government and LTTE need to demonstrate their commitment to peace in a more public and visible manner to win the confidence of the people, especially those on the other side of the ethnic divide. The failure to fulfil voluntarily accepted commitments in the ceasefire agreement is leading towards a weakening in the enthusiasm and confidence of the people. If the parties are unable to meet any deadlines, they should renegotiate them without permitting the deadlines to lapse and set out new targets in a consensual manner as befits the consensual peace process." |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
