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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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Deputy Minister calls for people's movement Tamil Press by M. P. Muttiah Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Dilan Perera has said that a people's movement irrespective of political affinity was necessary to create a joint mechanism. This movement should consist of members from civil society, scholars and intellectuals. He said that President was making every efforts towards forming the joint mechanism. The JVP understood the real situation only after it had discussion with the President. Sudar Oli (SOI) 9/5]. The Tamil National Alliance appealed the donor countries to pressurise the government to create a joint mechanism and to commence peace talks. Vanni District Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikkalanathan said those countries should obtain assurance from the government on these issues. Since three years had passed after the cease fire agreement, the high security zones still existed and resettlement did not take place. Virakesari(VK) 13/5). Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera asked whether those who opposed the joint mechanism were ready for a war. This joint mechanism would help innocent people who lost everything in the tsunami. `The joint mechanism is an administrative structure. No laws would be passed by the government on the joint mechanism and there would be no constitutional amendments to accommodate it, he said. (VK 13/5). LTTE political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan told the press after meeting Norwegian Ambassador, that his leadership would consider alternate proposals seriously if joint mechanism was not created. He was answering a question whether a alternate plan would be announced if the joint mechanism was not created. (SOI.14/5). Up-country People's Front leader P. Chandrasekeran said that it would be impossible to create joint mechanism without the support of India. He said he would meet Indian leaders and seek the support of political leaders in Tamil Nadu. He said he had discussed this matter with TNA leaders (VK 15/4). US Embassy's Information Officer Helena Nador, Political Affairs officer Michale Collins and the visiting US Defence officer Jonathan Daniel made a three-day visit to Batticaloa and Ampara. They met TNA parliamentarians P.Ariyanendiran, K. Thangeswari, K.Jeyanandamoorthy, Government Agent V. Shanmugam, representatives of NGOs and SLMM. They discussed political situation, security arrangements, tsunami relief and the problems of journalists after the death of journalist D.Sivaram. (VK 11/5). TNA Parliamentarians told the US officials that if the JVP leave the government on the issues of joint mechanism and the self-determination of Tamils, the TNA would extend its conditional support to the government. (VK.12/5). Indian and Sri Lankan intellectuals in a joint statement said that ethnic conflict should be solved on the basis of federalism and decided to draw up a plan towards that effort. These intellectuals participated in a two-day seminar on Federalism in Colombo, urged President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge and the Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe to issue a open joint statement that they were ready to talk to the LTTE. (VK-13/5). Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said there was possibility to increase the prices of imported items owing to soaring fuel prices. He urged the traders to cooperate with the government to bring down the prices. He said that Rupees 800 million was saved by ending the monopoly of Prima. He said he would like to end the monopoly in gas, but the problem was that no storage facilities available in Sri Lanka.UNP Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran and President of the Old Moor Street Traders Association thanked the minister for ending Prima monopoly. (VK 10/5) LTTE's political wing chief S.P. Tamilselvan has said that Indian views on the aircrafts was a shock to him. India had said that it was deeply concerned about the LTTE's possession of aircrafts. In an interview with the BBC, Tamilselvan said that people created military structures for self-defence and that was not a threat to India or to any other country. (SOI 9/5) Reports from Nuwera- Eliya said that Upper Kotmale Project would commence in July according to the alternate plan submitted by the Ceylon Worker's Congress. Concrete walls would be constructed near Logie Estate on both sides of proposed dam. Rupees 400 million would be spent on the construction of settlements and other buildings. More than 400 houses, 39 shops, 4 work sites, temples, church and library, school, UC office and a cinema hall would be constructed. However, a protest meeting was held in Talwakelle against the project. (SOI 10/5). A Japanese delegation would arrive in Sri Lanka to decide whether to proceed with the Upper Kotmale Project. This delegation would be in Sri Lanka for a week to assess the situation. It was reported that Japan has sought a detail report from the government as protest against the project was mounting. (VK 10/5). |
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