srilanka1998
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- 26. Juli 2005
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New attempt to salvage Sri Lanka peace process
[ AftenPosten ] [ 06:11 GMT, Oct. 6, 2005 ]
A top Norwegian diplomat will meet with Tamil Tiger rebel leaders on Thursday to try to keep Sri Lanka from sliding back into civil war. Hans Brattskar - Norway's ambassador to Sri Lanka and a key player in the Norwegian-brokered 2002 cease-fire that halted two decades of ethnic conflict in the South Asian nation - was expected to travel Thursday to the northern rebel-held town of Kilinochchi, officials involved in the peace process said on condition of anonymity. While there, he will meet with S. P. Thamilselvan to discuss how to end a stalemate between the Tigers and government over where to hold crucial talks to review the shaky truce, the officials said. Norwegian Embassy spokeswoman Kjersti Tromsdal confirmed the meeting, but gave no details.
Sri Lanka starts campaign to bag Secy-General post
[ PTI ] [ 06:13 GMT, Oct. 6, 2005 ]
The election for a new United Nations Secretary-General is more than a year away but Sri Lanka has already started a sustained campaign for its candidate - career diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has written letters to all 191 member states emphasizing his qualifications and seeking their support but diplomats say it is too early for any country to make up its mind as they expect several other candidates to throw their hat in the ring for the 250,000 dollar a year job. Secretary-General Kofi Annan steps down at the end of his second term on December 31 next year and the political drama leading to election of new incumbent is not expected to start before the fall of 2006.
An Open Letter to Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat:
Dr. Dhanapala, during your visit to Washington you have spoken about the nature of the responsibilities of the new Secretary General (SG) to be elected soon, for which you have already expressed your interest. Do you not think that, if you had not done this briefing in Capital Hill, you would have had a better chance of being elected to that position? Through this briefing, you have demonstrated to the IC that you are no different from any other Sri Lankan politician in handling conflicts. You have demonstrated that you are not suitable to fit into any of the criteria the SG's position demands that you ennumerated.
Therefore, it is better for you to become a politician in Sri Lanka rather than aspiring for the post of SG of the UN. Let the Almighty God guide you in making that choice to save the world from a political disaster like what Sri Lanka has gone through.
Tamil Tigers seen as kingmakers in Sri Lanka vote
[ AFP ] [ 06:15 GMT, Oct. 6, 2005 ]
Sri Lanka's minority parties have aligned with the two main contenders for next month's presidential election hoping to be kingmakers, but analysts say it is the Tamil Tiger rebels who will end up calling the shots. The stalled peace bid with the Tigers is emerging a key issue in the run up to the November 17 ballot and all key minority parties, except the Tigers, have already rallied behind the two main Sinhalese candidates. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) wield considerable influence in the island's embattled northeast where minority ethnic Tamils are concentrated and could tip the scales in a close face off. "It will be the Tamils who will eventually decide who will be king," said Harry Gunatillake, political analyst and former advisor to President Chandrika Kumaratunga. "The Tigers will show which way the people there should vote." Main opposition candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe secured an early boost this week when the key minority Muslim party and a powerful union of Tamil tea plantation workers pledged their backing.
[ AftenPosten ] [ 06:11 GMT, Oct. 6, 2005 ]
A top Norwegian diplomat will meet with Tamil Tiger rebel leaders on Thursday to try to keep Sri Lanka from sliding back into civil war. Hans Brattskar - Norway's ambassador to Sri Lanka and a key player in the Norwegian-brokered 2002 cease-fire that halted two decades of ethnic conflict in the South Asian nation - was expected to travel Thursday to the northern rebel-held town of Kilinochchi, officials involved in the peace process said on condition of anonymity. While there, he will meet with S. P. Thamilselvan to discuss how to end a stalemate between the Tigers and government over where to hold crucial talks to review the shaky truce, the officials said. Norwegian Embassy spokeswoman Kjersti Tromsdal confirmed the meeting, but gave no details.
Sri Lanka starts campaign to bag Secy-General post
[ PTI ] [ 06:13 GMT, Oct. 6, 2005 ]
The election for a new United Nations Secretary-General is more than a year away but Sri Lanka has already started a sustained campaign for its candidate - career diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has written letters to all 191 member states emphasizing his qualifications and seeking their support but diplomats say it is too early for any country to make up its mind as they expect several other candidates to throw their hat in the ring for the 250,000 dollar a year job. Secretary-General Kofi Annan steps down at the end of his second term on December 31 next year and the political drama leading to election of new incumbent is not expected to start before the fall of 2006.
An Open Letter to Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat:
Dr. Dhanapala, during your visit to Washington you have spoken about the nature of the responsibilities of the new Secretary General (SG) to be elected soon, for which you have already expressed your interest. Do you not think that, if you had not done this briefing in Capital Hill, you would have had a better chance of being elected to that position? Through this briefing, you have demonstrated to the IC that you are no different from any other Sri Lankan politician in handling conflicts. You have demonstrated that you are not suitable to fit into any of the criteria the SG's position demands that you ennumerated.
Therefore, it is better for you to become a politician in Sri Lanka rather than aspiring for the post of SG of the UN. Let the Almighty God guide you in making that choice to save the world from a political disaster like what Sri Lanka has gone through.
Tamil Tigers seen as kingmakers in Sri Lanka vote
[ AFP ] [ 06:15 GMT, Oct. 6, 2005 ]
Sri Lanka's minority parties have aligned with the two main contenders for next month's presidential election hoping to be kingmakers, but analysts say it is the Tamil Tiger rebels who will end up calling the shots. The stalled peace bid with the Tigers is emerging a key issue in the run up to the November 17 ballot and all key minority parties, except the Tigers, have already rallied behind the two main Sinhalese candidates. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) wield considerable influence in the island's embattled northeast where minority ethnic Tamils are concentrated and could tip the scales in a close face off. "It will be the Tamils who will eventually decide who will be king," said Harry Gunatillake, political analyst and former advisor to President Chandrika Kumaratunga. "The Tigers will show which way the people there should vote." Main opposition candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe secured an early boost this week when the key minority Muslim party and a powerful union of Tamil tea plantation workers pledged their backing.