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| Sunday, 11 May 2003 |
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Tactical blunder if LTTE boycotts Tokyo donor meeting - John Cushnahan by Don Asoka Wijewardena A Senior member of the European Parliament described the exclusion of the LTTE from the Washington preparatory conference as unacceptable and said that the LTTE were justified in being annoyed over the inconsiderate decisions of responsible authorities. John Cushnahan, Member of European Parliament addressing the media at the European Commission in Colombo yesterday said that it would be a mistake by the LTTE to boycott the donor meeting in Tokyo, as it would and a wrong message internationally. "It would be a tactical blunder by the LTTE", he said. Cushnahan expressing his observations on the peace process said that the international community did not wish to see the peace initiatives maintained between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE collapse and stressed that all political parties should arrive at a collective decision at this critical juncture to achieve lasting peace in the country. Cushnahan also stated that while he recognised the legitimacy of the LTTE's grievances the EU had become aware of abduction, child recruitment, targeted killings of political opponents and extortions by the LTTE. He said that the continuation of such activities even after the signing of the MoU had threatened to destabilise the peace process. Speaking on demilitarisation of the North and East, Cushnahan said that real and meaningful progress on such a sensitive issue would take place only after a political settlement had been agreed and linked to decommissioning of their part. |
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