|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 15 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Tigers imperil Tamils - EPDP From the Tamil press by S.Selvakumar All Tamil dailies gave prominence to peace moves right through the week. The LTTE charged that the JVP that got into power through the President is now trying to destroy her. Kerala's good gesture to allow a passenger shipping service between Colombo and Cochin was a sigh of relief to would be Indian travellers and the week ended with EPDP condemning Tamil intellectuals and Tamil media for their showing a Nelsonian eye in the wake of LTTE killingtheir own brethren. *** Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne in an interview to the Virakesari and published on Monday has said President Kumaratunga resigned from the UPFA leadership since she trusted the UNP and its support in case the JVP leaves the government. The MP also stated that she would now act courageously to pursue the peace process. Several organisations will stage a satyragraha opposite the Norwegian Embassy tomorrow urging them to help restart the peace talks. At the end of the satyragraha petitions will be handed over to the President, Prime Minister, the Norwegian envoy and to Veupillai Prabhakaran, the Virakesari said. The Thinakaran said the government is trying from several fronts to recommence peace talks with LTTE. The Sudaroli on Tuesday quoting Thamilselvan said former rebels JVP were made partners in the government by President Kumaratunga but that party is now attempting to swallow the President. The Thinakkural quoting presidential secretariat sources said that Norway has positively responded to President Kumaratunga's request on restarting the peace talks and added that Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen is expected in Colombo next week. Y. Gopalaswamy, leader of the MDMK in Tamil Nadu who was arrested earlier for praising the LTTE at a meeting was discharged by a court following Tamil Nadu government's withdrawal of charges against him under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the Sudaroli reported on Wednesday. An Indian fisherman has been shot dead by the Sri Lanka Navy near Kachaichtivu, the paper said in an inside page story. The Thinakkural quoting President's House sources said the President will have a meeting with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe before the end of this month to discuss three topics. The talks will centre round abolition of the executive presidency, to convert the Parliament into a constituent assembly and to introduce amendments to the electoral system. The Treasury has allocated Rs. 622 million for work connected with drought relief and the President has summoned a high level conference with top officials to be held on Monday to plan and execute drought relief work in nine districts, the Thinakaran reported in its lead story. Head of the Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala was in Jaffna Tuesday visiting the High Security Zone with military officials where he discussed resettlement of displaced people. He is expected to submit a report to the President in this regard, the Thinakaran further said. The Virakesari quoted the Prime Minister as saying at a function that a salary hike for government employees will be in place along with the Budget. The Sudaroli on Friday in its lead story said the CWC like a cat sitting on a fence unable to decide whether to join the government or not despite three of its provincial councillors already crossing over to the government side. In another front page story the paper said Japanese Ambassador will meet S.P. Thamilselvan in Kilinochchi on Saturday to discuss Japanese aid for rehabilitation and development in the North and East. The Thinakkural gave prominence to the meeting on Wednesday held at he Akkaraipattu SLMM office between the LTTE and the STF on strengthening of cordial relations and preventing violent acts in government controlled areas. The paper also reported that the LTTE has requested the UNHCR to help provide safe journey for Tamil refugees returning home from India. The Thinakaran quoting the Police said that no rough tactics were used when arresting former minister Abdul Cader and added the MP's lawyers were present at the time of arrest. The Virakesari said that following orders from the President the Defence Ministry will appoint a committee to find ways and means to bring an end to the series of killings in the East. The paper also said 35 people have been killed in the East during the last three months. When the government talks with the LTTE on the ISGA proposals the subject of finance and security will be given priority, President Kumaratunga has said in an interview with a French News Agency, the Virakesari reported on Friday. The paper did not name the agency but quoted a website known as Puthinam which posted the report as its source. Estate sector trade unions have rejected a proposal by the Employers Federation to continue with the present collective agreement since they have no funds to effect salary increases. Trade union representatives are scheduled to discuss this issue among themselves at a meeting in Holiday Inn on August 17, the Thinakaran reported. Minister Douglas Devananda in a strongly worded statement has questioned the silence observed by Tamil intellectuals and Tamil media on the series of killings carried out by the LTTE of Tamils and added this would lead to the destruction of the entire Tamil nation, the Sudaroli said. A front office of the Department of Registration of Persons that functioned at Sangaraja Mawatha in Maradana to facilitate applications from the displaced in the North and East has been closed down. The Department has said that this was a temporary move and a definite decision on this will be taken later, the Thinakkural reported. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
