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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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At fourth round in Thailand - High security zones : top on the agenda by S. Selvakumar The thorny issue of resettlement of internally displaced people in the High Security Zones in the Jaffna peninsula over which the Army and the LTTE are at loggerheads will be the focus of attention at the fourth round of peace talks between the government and the LTTE which begins at the "Rose Garden Resort", Nakom Pathom in Thailand tomorrow, diplomatic sources said. In addition to the government and LTTE delegations, a prominent member of the Forum of Federations based in Canada will participate as an observer at the talks. The Forum comprises members from all countries in the world where federal form of governments exist. Though the high security zone issue will come up prominently, none should believe that it would be a heated issue and instead top level diplomacy will be maintained in arriving at a solution, the same diplomatic sources pointed out. "Both teams have done their homework thoroughly", the source further added. It was earlier decided to talk on the federal system of rule at tomorrow's talks. The LTTE now wants to shift it to the High Security Zone issue. It is reliably learnt that the LTTE will not talk on this issue with the Army in future despite the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission fixing January 14 for talks between the Army and LTTE at Muhamalai. LTTE sources pointed out that in the Vavuniya district people were allowed to resettle at a distance of about 600 metres from high security zones while in the Jaffna peninsula they are permitted to settle down several kilometres from high security zones. Meanwhile, the Colombo Peace Secretariat said that the reports of the sub-committees on resettlement and security affairs will be discussed at tomorrow's talks but if the LTTE insists for a change in the agenda, it would be looked into. It was earlier said that the head of the LTTE delegation Dr. Anton Balasingham would arrive in Vanni, soon after the third round of talks held in the Oslo to brief LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran. The trip was cancelled due to heavy floods in Vanni following torrential rains which was not conducive due to Dr. Balasingham's poor state of health. Talks will be held from tomorrow to Thursday and the government delegation will be headed by Professor G. L. Peiris. Dr. Balasingham will arrive in Thailand today, from London while the LTTE delegation which this time included its head of the Peace Secretariat S. Pulithevan left the island yesterday. |
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