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| Sunday, 3 October 2004 |
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Stalemate on FDLs at Nagarkovil From the Tamil press by S.Selvakumar Attack on human rights, officials by the Jaffna police, LTTE delegations visit to Geneva, the successful ponguthamil celebrations in Canada and Central Bank's warning to adjust fuel prices according to the current world market prices took centre stage in Tamil dailies in the past week.
Over 75,000 people participated in the Ponguthamil celebrations held in Toronto on Saturday despite protest to the Canadian authorities not to permit the celebrations, the Virakesari said on Monday. The LTTE has been warned by diplomats that President Kumaratunga will follow a tough course of action in pursuing the peace talks following her recent visits to the UK and the USA, the Sudaroli reported in its lead news. The forward defence lines of the LTTE and the security forces, at Nagarkovil are just 20 meters apart and as such the SLMM has requested both parties to move back their positions. However the Defence Ministry has rejected the request, the Thinakkural reported. Positive response The Thinakaran said the government is expecting a positive response from the LTTE on the release of the two homeguards abducted at Gomarankadewila a fortnight ago. All privately owned Tamil dailies on Tuesday highlighted an incident in jaffna police station where two human rights officials who went to the police station to make inquiries about a detainee were severely assaulted by policemen. The matter has been reported to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The Verakesari said the private sector rice importers have requested the government to allow them permission to import and if allowed they have pointed out that white rice could be sold at Rs. 28 a kilo and Samba at Rs. 32. False propaganda Thamilselvan has accused the government of spreading false propaganda at international fora on recommencing peace talks. He made this accusation at Kilinochchi on the eve of his departure to Geneva, all privately owned Tamil dailies reported on Wednesday. While the state owned Thinakaran in its lead story said there are signs of flexibility on the part of Tigers and attributed this thinking to TNA parliamentarians preparing to hold talks with the Sinhalese and Muslims in the East to know their stand. The Thinakaran in another front page story said that the police chief has ordered an immediate inquiry into allegations of assault by policemen in Jaffna on human rights officials who went to the police station to inquire about a detainee. Thamilselvan has told the Norwegian envoy that their organisation is not responsible for the killing of some EPDP cadres recently, the Sundaroli reported. Fishermen in Mannar are organising themselves to stage a fast to protest against poaching by Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka waters, the paper said in another front page story. The Virakesari carried a large front page picture of Thamilselvan attired in western lounge suit just before boarding a helicopter to be flown to Katunayake before his journey to Switzerland. The Sri Lanka Navy has complained to the SLMM that LTTE cadres were engaged in shooting practices the whole day on Sunday in an area adjoining an area under Navy's control, the Thinakkural said. Economic recovery The Thinakkural on Thursday quoted the Central Bank and said that unless the price of a barrel of crude oil was reduced to 40 dollars there would be no economic recovery for Sri Lanka. The paper quoted a speech by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe where he said he would make Sri Lanka a Japan within ten to fifteen years if he were to be elected executive president through strict economic policies compared it to what J.R. Jayewardene said in 1977 that he would transform Sri Lanka into a Singapore. In an editorial comment the paper said this speech was only a sign that Wickremesinghe had started his presidential election campaign. The Sundaroli quoted Thamilselvan as having said that the LTTE would take a firm decision on the stalled peace talks at their meeting in Geneva on Friday and Saturday. He has told the paper that the matter cannot be allowed to be dragged on. Thamilselvan and his team now in Switzerland are scheduled to meet with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen and special envoy Erick Solheim on October 7 in Oslo, the Virakesari reported. Unmanned aircraft vehicle The Sundaroli in a front page story reported there was tension in Akkaraipattu on Thursday following a protest by Muslims against the LTTE and added that several shops owned by Tamils were stoned. The paper also said that an unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) was seen circling Kilinochchi town for 45 minutes on Thursday. A delegation of TNA MPs met with the American Ambassador in Colombo and requested that USA should bring pressure on the government to establish an interim self-governing authority, the Virakesari said. The Thinakkural highlighted a Central Bank warning that unless fuel prices adjusted according to current world prices the debt burden of the country would worsen and it could adversely affect the people. |
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