Akashi commends President forsafeguarding human rights

LTTE's covert activities in Japan taboo

By Ananth Palakidnar

The LTTE's covert activities such as collecting funds and smuggling arms will not be tolerated in Japan and prompt action will be taken by the Japanese Government to stop any form of LTTE activities, the Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi said.

Akashi who was on a five-day visit to Sri Lanka held a press conference at the Hotel Galadari yesterday. Elaborating on his findings in Sri Lanka Akashi said that he was aware that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was determined to safeguard human rights."

President Rajapaksa has expressed his determination to safeguard human rights in Sri Lanka and find a political solution to the ethnic crisis," Akashi said. Commenting on curbing the LTTE's covert activities abroad, he said that he was aware that several countries had proscribed the LTTE and taken stiff measures on fund-raising and gun running activities of the organisation.

"There are no fund-raising or arms smuggling activities of the LTTE in Japan and the Japanese Government was closely monitoring any such involvement," Akashi said.

The Japanese Special Envoy also commended President Rajapaksa for investigating the killings of the Red Cross volunteers from the Eastern Province. Elaborating further on granting Japanese assistance to Sri Lanka, Akashi reiterated that the Japanese Government would continue to assist Sri Lanka and believed that the peace process and the development activities of the country should go hand in hand.

He also appreciated the moves initiated by the All Party Representative Committee on bringing the political parties together to find a political solution to the ethnic crisis.

Speaking on his visit to Vakarai in the Eastern province, the Japanese Special Envoy said that he was happy with the resettlement process carried out in the region and added that the basic needs of the civilians who have returned to their original places should be addressed properly.