srilanka1998
Member
- Registriert
- 26. Juli 2005
- Beiträge
- 511
UNICEF and LTTE decide to continue to work together
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 15:04 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
In a meeting between UNCEF and LTTE, held at the LTTE Peace Secretariat today, both parties appreciated the contribution of the other party in protecting the child rights in the NorthEast. In depth discussion was held about addressing the needs and care of the children in the NorthEast affected by war. UNCEF particularly appreciated the cooperation extended by LTTE in dealing with the under-age youths joining LTTE. They expressed their satisfaction in the sharp decline in under-age youths joining LTTE. LTTE brought up the matter of the contradictions in the UN instruments in dealing with the age of youths joining a military force. UN delegates accepted that there are such contradictions which need to be addressed.
Too few Tamil speakers in SL Govt service
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 15:06 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka's Official Languages Commission has reported that there are far too few Tamil speakers in government service and has suggested measures to correct the glaring imbalance. The Tamil-speaking population in Sri Lanka comprises Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Origin Tamils and Muslims. Together they are 26 per cent of the island's population. But in the 9,00,000-strong public service, Tamil-speakers are just 8.3 per cent. The rest are Sinhala-speakers. Out of the 36,031 employees in the Police Department, 231 are Tamils and 246 are Muslims. Since Sri Lankan Muslims are also Tamil speaking, the total number of Tamil speakers in this vital department is just 477.
Sri Lanka doubts foreign advisors ahead of truce talks
[ AFP ] [ 15:07 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka has found that US experts hired to advise its peace negotiators could compromise crucial ceasefire talks, a state-run newspaper reported as Tiger rebels were accused of gun running. The foreign conflict resolution experts hired by Colombo last week turned out to be "too liberal" and "possibly too pro-Tigers" and could compromise two-days of talks due to start on February 22, the Sunday Observer said. The government had sought the assistance of a US think tank to help the government negotiating team to prepare for face-to-face talks with Tamil Tiger rebels and end a three-year deadlock in the Norwegian-backed peace process.
Beware of pros and cons, peace team told
[ Sunday Observer ] [ 15:15 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
The government peace team, while being coached on the aspects of peacemaking and negotiation, is also being given a sense of proportion by those who are wary of conflict resolution specialists. It learnt that two Harvard specialists who were coaching the peace team on some aspects of conflict resolution, for instance, were thought of as being too liberal and possibly too pro Tiger in their views. As an antidote to their views, interested others who also have a stake in the education of the peace team brought literature and texts that alerted them to possible pitfalls when negotiating with the LTTE. One source close to the process said that the danger is that some of these conflict resolution specialists, though they maybe from Harvard and other institutions of repute, may wittingly or otherwise place Sri Lankan strategy in channels that could be available to the Tigers. "We run the risk of the Tigers knowing what the Sri Lankan strategy is, even before we reach the negotiating table,'' they said.
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 15:04 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
In a meeting between UNCEF and LTTE, held at the LTTE Peace Secretariat today, both parties appreciated the contribution of the other party in protecting the child rights in the NorthEast. In depth discussion was held about addressing the needs and care of the children in the NorthEast affected by war. UNCEF particularly appreciated the cooperation extended by LTTE in dealing with the under-age youths joining LTTE. They expressed their satisfaction in the sharp decline in under-age youths joining LTTE. LTTE brought up the matter of the contradictions in the UN instruments in dealing with the age of youths joining a military force. UN delegates accepted that there are such contradictions which need to be addressed.
Too few Tamil speakers in SL Govt service
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 15:06 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka's Official Languages Commission has reported that there are far too few Tamil speakers in government service and has suggested measures to correct the glaring imbalance. The Tamil-speaking population in Sri Lanka comprises Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Origin Tamils and Muslims. Together they are 26 per cent of the island's population. But in the 9,00,000-strong public service, Tamil-speakers are just 8.3 per cent. The rest are Sinhala-speakers. Out of the 36,031 employees in the Police Department, 231 are Tamils and 246 are Muslims. Since Sri Lankan Muslims are also Tamil speaking, the total number of Tamil speakers in this vital department is just 477.
Sri Lanka doubts foreign advisors ahead of truce talks
[ AFP ] [ 15:07 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka has found that US experts hired to advise its peace negotiators could compromise crucial ceasefire talks, a state-run newspaper reported as Tiger rebels were accused of gun running. The foreign conflict resolution experts hired by Colombo last week turned out to be "too liberal" and "possibly too pro-Tigers" and could compromise two-days of talks due to start on February 22, the Sunday Observer said. The government had sought the assistance of a US think tank to help the government negotiating team to prepare for face-to-face talks with Tamil Tiger rebels and end a three-year deadlock in the Norwegian-backed peace process.
Beware of pros and cons, peace team told
[ Sunday Observer ] [ 15:15 GMT, Feb. 12, 2006 ]
The government peace team, while being coached on the aspects of peacemaking and negotiation, is also being given a sense of proportion by those who are wary of conflict resolution specialists. It learnt that two Harvard specialists who were coaching the peace team on some aspects of conflict resolution, for instance, were thought of as being too liberal and possibly too pro Tiger in their views. As an antidote to their views, interested others who also have a stake in the education of the peace team brought literature and texts that alerted them to possible pitfalls when negotiating with the LTTE. One source close to the process said that the danger is that some of these conflict resolution specialists, though they maybe from Harvard and other institutions of repute, may wittingly or otherwise place Sri Lankan strategy in channels that could be available to the Tigers. "We run the risk of the Tigers knowing what the Sri Lankan strategy is, even before we reach the negotiating table,'' they said.