News vom 08.03.2006

[srilanka1998]

First Deal, First Hurdle
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03:25 GMT, Mar. 8, 2006 ]

The first session of direct negotiations between the Liberation Tigers and the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse in Geneva last month were every bit as acrimonious as had been feared. That there wasn’t a complete breakdown of the talks, as well as the tenuous ceasefire - the topic under discussion, was undoubtedly due to the indefatigable efforts of the Norwegian brokers. Successful negotiations usually allow for all participants to claim a measure of success. But the acrimony that dogged the Geneva talks erupted anew when the Sri Lankan government delegation, on its return to Colombo, made patently false claims, both as to what was discussed and the supposed outcome. In short, Sri Lanka claimed to have amended the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA).

 

[srilanka1998]

Sri Lanka, LTTE peace talks falter in Geneva
[ IPS ] [ 11:44 GMT, Mar. 8, 2006 ]

A flare-up of violence in Sri Lanka's volatile east and impatience with Norwegian mediation from pro-Sinhala political parties are threatening to derail peace negotiations between the government and Tamil Tiger representatives in Geneva. Barely two weeks after the first round of the Geneva negotiations concluded on Feb. 23, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), as the Tamil Tigers are officially known, have had two of its cadres attacked and killed by suspected members of a splinter faction that is said to be backed by the government.On Tuesday, Wimal Weeravansha, leader in parliament of the People's Liberation Front (PLF), which helped President Mahinda Rajapakse win elections in November demanded that the government review Norway's role in the peace process. "We should not continue to keep as the facilitator, Norway, which plays a dubious role betraying our motherland," he said.

 

[srilanka1998]

Sri Lanka's first mobile phone firm enters troubled areas
[ AFP ] [ 13:20 GMT, Mar. 8, 2006 ]

Sri Lankan mobile phone company Celltel announced plans to invest 100 million dollars to bring services to the island's embattled northeast, but not in areas controlled by Tamil rebels. Celltel, which launched an analogue network in 1989 to become the first phone company in South Asia to go cellular, said they will add 500 new base stations in the north and east such as the port district of Trincomalee within three months. The service however will not reach the northeastern town of Kilinochi, controlled by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who have waged a separatist conflict since 1972 that has claimed more than 60,000 lives.


EU chief election monitor calls for immediate electoral reforms in Sri Lanka
[ AP ] [ 13:21 GMT, Mar. 8, 2006 ]

The European Union's chief election observer in Sri Lanka on Wednesday called for immediate electoral reforms in the island nation, warning that failure to do so could result in a loss of EU goodwill. "It is not proper for me to issue threats," John Cushnahan told reporters about persistent delays in enacting EU-suggested reforms, including making the election commission an independent body. But if no steps are taken toward implementing the changes, Sri Lanka "runs the danger of forfeiting a lot of (EU) goodwill," he said. Cushnahan, on a visit to Sri Lanka, said the EU has already recommended setting up an independent election commission, a code of conduct for political parties and tougher action to stop election-related violence.

 

[Admin]

Sri Lanka to be free from land mines by 2008: Govt



Colombo, Mar 07: Sri Lanka has cleared more than half of the country's estimated one million land mines, sown during two decades of civil war, and should be able to complete the task within two years, a government official said today.

The mines were laid during fighting in Sri Lanka's northeast, the main battleground between government forces and rebels who have been fighting since 1983 to carve out a separate state for the island's 3.2 million Tamil minority.

"Almost 55 per cent of land mines have been cleared so far," said Jayasinghe, secretary in charge of reconstruction and development in conflict-affected areas.

"All the land mines in Sri Lanka will be cleared by 2008 at the latest, according to our current de-mining programmes," Jayasinghe said.

The de-mining programme began after a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire agreement was signed in 2002.

Jayasinghe said the clearing of land mines in villages where mostly Tamils are living will be completed by the end of this year.

"However, clearing of mines in high-security zones maintained by the military around their camps and strategic points will take time," he said.

He said UN agencies are monitoring de-mining activities in both government and rebel-held areas.

Many countries including the United States, Japan, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Australia have provided financial support to the de-mining programme.

The government and Tamil Tiger rebels met in Geneva on February 22-23 and agreed to honour the truce and to meet again in Geneva on April 19-21.

Bureau Report

 

[srilanka1998]

No hope for enduring peace - Dr Ayesha Siddiqa
[ Daily Times ] [ 19:10 GMT, Mar. 8, 2006 ]

Sadly, most Sinhalese leaders and the Rajapakse government see the Karuna factor as something they can exploit to weaken the LTTE and thereby avoid rethinking political arrangements. The military commanders are already talking of a separation between the north and the east. The idea is to thwart the establishment of the ISGL by driving a wedge between the Tamil and the Muslim population living primarily in the east and destroy the Tamil plan for an autonomous region. Such politics has turned the country into a predatory state like Nepal and Pakistan. These states are characterised by a leadership driven by short-term gains and the absence of institutions and a political game plan. Enduring peace requires renegotiating Sri Lanka’s political framework. The only option is to undo the state’s post-colonial character and replace it with a more representative polity.


What happened in Qatar?
[ ThinakKural ] [ 19:44 GMT, Mar. 8, 2006 ]

These were some of the news captions in the recent issues of some Sinhala newspapers in Sri Lanka. The Sinhala media released this news in connection to 'Kurivi', a member of Karuna group being stabbed to death in Qatar.Confrontations related to Karuna group had gone overseas even up to Qatar. It is true that, in the wake of the 'Karuna problem', vast number of youth from Batticaloa left to Qatar in search of employment. Many of these who had collaborated with Karuna, fled to Qatar in fear of their future in their home towns.Many of ex- Karuna loyalists wish to return home and work along with the Tigers. Stanley and Manivannan are presently in Batticaloa working with the Liberation Tigers. However, the youth known as Kuruvi had wished neither to return home nor to work with the Tigers.