LTTE rejects humanitarian offer again

Norwegian peace envoy tells Govt

by Ranga Jayasuriya

The LTTE has for the second time, turned down a Government offer to open the Muhamalai entry point for one-off convoy of humanitarian supplies to Jaffna, the Norwegian peace envoy has informed the Government.

The Norwegian envoy, Jon Hanssen Bauer conveying the LTTE position told the Government that "the LTTE had refused to consider the government's proposal to send a convoy of urgent relief supplies along the A9 road through the Muhamalai checkpoint to Jaffna," the Peace Secretariat said in a media statement.

The Government has confirmed that it was ready with trucks full of supplies and wants to discuss practical arrangements and safety guarantees for the relief convoy.

The LTTE also rejected a Government proposal to set up safe havens for the internally displaced people in Vakarai. The Government reiterated the urgent need to move the IDPs away from military installations to a defined safe area.

The Government offer, which was, initially, communicated to the LTTE through the ceasefire monitors a few weeks back, came in the wake of killing of scores of civilians in a school in Kathiraveli where IDPs sought refugee.

The Norwegian Envoy visited Kilinochchi on Friday and held extensive talks with LTTE political chief S. P. Thamilselvan.

Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohonna also wanted Bauer to urge the LTTE to allow the 4,000 odd Jaffna retailers to operate freely.

The Government alleges that these traders have been threatened by the LTTE to cease operations.

The 450 plus co-operative shops and 16 Army welfare shops are inadequate to cater to the local population.

However the Norwegian envoy has told Dr. Kohonna that he had not dwelled on this issue as "he wanted to focus on the importance of the urgent proposal to enable the convoy of relief supplies through the A9."

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