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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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Akashi cuts it very fine From the Tamil Press by S. Selvakumar Japan's special envoy Yasushi Akashi's visit, his assurance to the Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians that no funds would be released from the aid pledged at the Tokyo donor parley until peace talks commence and his concerns to the Prime Minister over JVP objections on the peace moves were highlighted in the Tamil press last week.
Nine of the 15-member delegation that visited the EU countries are yet to return to Sri Lanka, the LTTE peace secretariat announced in Kilinochchi. This included ThamilSelvan and Pulithevan but failed to mention as to when they would return, the Thinakaran said on Monday. The Sudaroli in its lead story said that President Kumaratunga by next Sunday would announce that her government would talk to the LTTE on the ISGA proposals based on the Oslo declaration. The paper quoted diplomatic sources and said that India would interfere in the affairs of Sri Lanka through the front and back doors. Runway in Sampur According to the Thinakkural, military intelligence has brought to the notice of authorities the LTTE was constructing a two-kilometre runway in Sampur in Muttur. The government rejected an Indian offer to effect repairs to the Palaly runway at a cost of Rs. 360 million. It was rejected due to an Indian condition that it could be used only by India and Sri Lanka. The TNA said that before taking any action to change the Constitution the President should establish the Interim Self Governing Authority to the Northeast, the Virakesari said. In another front page story the paper said Navy Chief Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri wrote to the Foreign Ministry that the Sethusamudram project would spell danger to Sri Lanka's defence. The Thinakkural on Tuesday said that Japanese special envoy Yasushi Akashi would arrive in the country on Wednesday. This would be followed by the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Peterson. However, the paper quoted Asian diplomats and added their visits would not bring any favourable changes to restart the stalled peace talks. The Virakesari quoted Hindu editor Ram and said that India would be opposed to a third Navy in areas closer to the Palk Straits. The Sudaroli said the LTTE would accept talks only on the ISGA proposals and it would oppose talks based on the Oslo declaration. The LTTE delegation that returned from the EU was stopped by the Army at Omanthai. All attempts by the army to check them were resisted and the delegation was allowed to proceed after a high ranking Army officer from Vavuniya intervened and allowed them to proceed without any checks. The Thinakaran said estate management agreed to grant a Rs. 180 wage hike to estate workers and the announcement would be made on Tuesday. An application was handed over to the Elections Commissioner to register Karuna's political party. G. R. Gunarajah was named as the secretary of the party. According to the Sudaroli those who were shot in Wellawatte on Monday were members of the Karuna faction who were earlier attacked by the LTTE at Nagastenne in Welikanda. One was killed while one among the injured was warded in a serious condition. They arrived in Colombo after the Welikanda attack for treatment to their injuries. Hijack planes Some rebel organisations in India planned to hijack planes following the killing of Veerappan and as security measures, hundreds of policemen were put on duty at Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore airports, Virakesari said in a front page story. Parliamentarian Rauff Hakeem in an interview to the BBC said Karuna faction had established camps in the government-controlled areas in Senapura in Polonnaruwa but despite protests by the villagers authorities failed to take action. The Thinakkural quoted Hindu editor Ram and said if the basics in the Northeast situation change India would not be able to continue its present policy towards Sri Lanka. Veerakesari in its lead story on Friday said Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala has submitted his resignation to the President but the Thinakaran quoted officials of the Peace Secretariat and said there was no truth in rumours that Dhanapala resigned. The Thinakaran in a front page story said Indian fishermen would arrive at Iranathivu in Mannar in 1,000 fishing trawlers on Friday and quoted a Naval officer. The officer was of the view that Indian coast guards would prevent the trawlers from reaching Sri Lanka shores. The LTTE called upon the government to take bold steps and restart the peace talks on its ISGA proposals, the Sudaroli said in its lead story. In another story the paper said Thamilselvan and his delegation would stay in dublin, Ireland till Saturday. From there they would travel to Switzerland and return to Sri Lanka. The UNP complained to the EU Parliament that the LTTE was ready for the recommencement of peace talks but the government is not yet, the Thinakkural said in its lead story. The Thinakaran on Friday quoted the Japanese Embassy and said that it would be very unlikely special envoy Yasushi Akashi would meet with Thamilselvan as scheduled on October 31. The paper said Thamilselvan would return to the country only on November 1. Akashi with TNA According to the Sudaroli, Akashi met with the TNA and assured them the 4.5 billion dollar aid pledged at the Tokyo donor parley would be released only after the commencement of peace talks. The paper in another front page story said the UNP accused the government of preparing a war time budget and had shown no interest on peace talks. Parliamentarian Rauff Hakeem told Akashi there was no necessity to submit the Muslim's proposals to the National Council for Peace and Rehabilitation as requested by the President since they had already been submitted to the relevant parties, according to the Virakesari. The Thinakkural said Akashi expressed concern to the Prime Minister over objections raised by the JVP over the resumption of peace talks and asked him what co-operation the party had extended to find a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict. |
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