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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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LTTE to cooperate with Government by Ranga Jayasuriya and Jayantha Sri Nissanka LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham said yesterday that the LTTE wanted a mechanism that would coordinate the relief work done by the Government and the LTTE. LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham said yesterday that the LTTE wanted a mechanism that would coordinate the relief work done by the Government and the LTTE. He said LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran expressed his willingness at yesterday's meeting with the visiting Norwegian peace facilitators to co-operate with the Government to work out a mechanism to coordinate post tsunami relief assistance in the North-East "The Government and the LTTE are engaged in preliminary discussions to formulate a mechanism to co-operate in relief work in the North-East," Balasingham told a press conference in Killinochchi. "The discussions will be confined to humanitarian work and no political issues will be taken up," he added. He also said the Norwegians underlined the need for a mechanism acceptable to both parties, the Government and the LTTE to co-operate in relief work. " Prabhakaran responded that he was ready to cooperate with the setting up of a mechanism, so that aid will be distributed freely and equitably without bureaucratic hindrance," he said. Balasingham said the tsunami devastation of the North-East was "fundamentally different", as the North -East was subjected to destruction by the two decade old ethnic war. Balasingham, however, said he did not wish to marginalise the destruction faced by the Southern people. "This tragedy should not be politicized or militarized," he said. "We feel suspicious that the government is utilizing this monumental human tragedy to strengthen its military capacity," he said referring to a reported government procurement of weapons worth 150 million dollars from Iran. He, however, said there were positive indicators in the immediate aftermath of tsunami referring to increased co-operation between the LTTE cardres and Security Forces personnel in the face of the destruction of ravaging sea waves. "There were instances of LTTE cardres rescuing lives of Government soldiers. And the security forces also rescued some LTTE cadres," he said. "Of course the government is sending some assistance (to the North-East) and we are happy. But the Government has to do more to win the goodwill of the LTTE and Tamil people," he said. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen earlier in a brief meeting with the press said he and his delegation met Prabhakaran and expressed their condolence to those affected by tsunami. Meanwhile, Norwegian International Development Minister Hilde F.Johnson stressed a joint program between the Government and the LTTE was necessary to resurrect the country from the tsunami tragedy.She said that the Norwegian delegation discussed only reconstruction measures with the LTTE leader. Addressing the Media before her departure from Sri Lanka at the Colombo Hilton Hotel last night she said that the Norwegian delegation learnt that impatience and frustration was growing among the victims. "Therefore, the two parties should work together to help the needy. People should not be the hostages of the situation. If this cooperation is improved, it can create a conducive environment for future peace talks", she emphasised. |
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