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| Sunday, 12 September 2004 |
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Sethusamudram project raises concerns From the Tamil press by S.Selvakumar Speculation on the portfolio to CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman, LTTE's stand on Thondaman's unconditional support to the government, the meeting between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and TNA's request to India to show more concern in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict were the highlights in Tamil dailies last week. Virakesari on Monday quoting former UNP Minister Rajitha Senaratne said though CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman had announced unconditional support to the government this was only for the purpose of talks with the LTTE on the ISGA proposals but he would remain with the Opposition. Government parliamentary group which is scheduled to meet on Monday will decide on bringing a motion of no confidence on the Speaker, the Thinakaran said. The Sudaroli published three pictures of deserted Ampara Batticaloa towns and said in its lead story the people observed Sunday a day of killings to commemorate the killing of 158 people who were refugees allegedly by the Army on September 5, 1990. The paper quoting political observers said that a beauty from India had been bothering Arumugam Thondaman and it was to solve this problem that the CWC had expressed support to the government. The paper quoting Thamilselvan said on Tuesday the LTTE will wait and see whether CWC's decision to render unconditional support to the government would benefit the entire Tamil speaking people. The Thinakkural quoting Thamilselvan said it was confusing that the CWC has decided to support the government at a time when people both Sinhala and Tamil are suspecting whether the government is serious in finding a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict. In another front page story the paper said the Navy has carried out an attack on fishermen in the Mullaitivu seas and the incident has been reported to the SLMM. A Geneva based organisation involved in demining and an Inter Religious Peace Organisation will soon meet Thamilselvan requesting the LTTE to sign the Ottawa agreement banning land mines, the Thinakaran said. The Virakesari on Wednesday quoting CWC sources said that the party will oppose any moves by the government to change the constitution change of electoral system and any no confidence motion against the Speaker. The paper quoting the Norwegian Ambassador on his return from Kilinochchi said a satisfactory situation will arise vis-a-vis the peace process. In another front page story the Virakesari said the CWC and the government has still not reached a settlement on the cabinet portfolios and a scheduled meeting between Thondaman and the President on Tuesday did not take place. The paper further said that the CWC leader is once again going to India on Saturday and the subject will be discussed only on his return. The Thinakaran said that the CWC will be given a ministry in the Central Provincial Council and this will happen after the government allocation of cabinet portfolios to the CWC. The Sudaroli said India's Sethusamudram project will result in environmental problems to Jaffna and Mannar. The Indian project will dredge the Palk Strait by a further 12.8 metres for a breadth of 300 metres to enable large ships to sail between the West of India and the East of India skipping the present route of encircling Sri Lanka. The paper has quoted Vinodh Moonesinghe of the Environmental Foundation Ltd. A group of rebels launched on attack on an LTTE camp in Pullumalai in Batticaloa. Tigers defended their camp and killed two of the rebels, the Thinakural reported on Thursday. Norwegian peace envoy who comes to the island next week will first meet with the President before proceeding to Kilinochchi for talks with Thamilselvan, the Virakesari said. In another story the paper said that Minister of Community Development and Estate Infrastructure will decide on Thursday whether to give his portfolio to the CWC. All four Tamil dailies on Friday highlighted the meeting between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe held on Thursday. The Thinakkural said that Wickremesinghe promised to get back to the President after consulting his party on the national advisory committee to go into the peace process. The Sudaroli's headline screamed that the meeting ended without any decision being taken. The Thinakaran quoted Leader of the House Maitripala Sirisena's statement in Parliament that LTTE's proposals are being studied and soon the government will announce which proposals could be accepted. The Virakesari said that Wickremesinghe has intimated to the President that the UNP will always support the government's peace initiative. In another front page story the paper reported the meeting between TNA parliamentarians and Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao where the former has said that India should show more concern in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. |
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