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Norway, U.S. Send Envoys to Sri Lanka to Boost Peace Process
[ Bloomberg ] [ 01:53 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
Envoys from Norway and the U.S. visit Sri Lanka today to try to broker peace talks to support a 2002 cease-fire that is in danger of collapsing amid increasing violence between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. Erik Solheim, Norway's minister of international development, will meet government and rebel leaders during a four-day visit. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns is visiting Colombo to meet Solheim and Sri Lankan officials, the U.S. embassy said in a statement. Burns ``will call again for the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to resume talks on strengthening the cease-fire agreement as soon as possible,'' the U.S. embassy said.
US Tamils question timing of Ambassador Lunstead's speech
[ TamilNet ] [ 07:38 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
Questioning Ambassador Lunstead's "reckless exercise at a time of great risk to the peace process, and just a few days before Mr. Erik Solheim's visit, which everyone was looking to as the only way of defusing an extremely dangerous situation," US Tamils, in a memorandum to Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice and to Mr Nicholas Burns, the U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs, said they hoped that Mr. Burns, who will be in Sri Lanka during Mr. Solheim's visit, "will clarify to everyone what US policy is at this critical time, and help revive the peace track."
Peace envoy arrives in Sri Lanka
[ CNN ] [ 07:42 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
A top Norwegian envoy arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday on a mission to save the cease-fire he negotiated four years ago and prevent the island nation from slipping back into war. In meetings through Wednesday, envoy Eric Solheim, was to confer with President Mahinda Rajapakse and travel to the Tamil Tiger rebels' capital of Kilinochchi to meet with their reclusive leader, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, officials said. Separately, the rebels' peace negotiator, Anton Balasingham, also arrived from his home in London. Balasingham, who holds a British passport, will aid Prabhakaran during talks with Solheim. Solheim, who brokered the 2002 cease-fire, also planned to meet with U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns later Monday, the U.S. Embassy said. Burns will discuss the peace process with Sri Lankan officials, Solheim and others "to reiterate the strong U.S. desire to see all Sri Lankans work for peace," the embassy said in a statement before his arrival.
Balasingham arrives in Kilinochchi
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 07:45 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
LTTE theoretician and chief negotiator Mr. Anton Balasingam and his wife Adel Balasingam arrived in Kilinochchi by Sri Lankan Air force helicopter on 23rd January around 9.00 am. Traveling along with Mr. and Mrs. Balasingam was Ms. Helen Olafsdottir, spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and Oddvar Lagreid, second secretary of the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Mr. and Mrs. Balasingam were received by many people and LTTE senior members including Head of the Political Wing, Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan, Chief of the Sea tigers Col. Soosai, Senior member K.V. Balakumaran, Tamileelam educational head Mr. Ilankumaran, Head of the Tamileelam Judicial section Mr. Para and Head of the women's political wing Ms. Thamilini.
New Sri Lanka blast ahead of peace talks
[ Reuters ] [ 11:34 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The patrol was ambushed with a deadly claymore fragmentation mine, a block of plastic explosive which blasts out ball bearings. It was the latest in a string of attacks that have killed more than 70 armed forces personnel since December.The attack came just hours after peace envoy Erik Solheim touched down in Sri Lanka for a three-day visit to try to convince the government and the rebels to agree on a venue for talks to haul a 2002 truce back from breaking point."People are really angry and frustrated with the Sri Lankan government ... who are using the military as an iron fist to suppress their democratic rights and aspirations," S Puleedevan, head of the rebels' Peace Secretariat, said by telephone from Kilinochchi."If the Sri Lankan government and southern Sinhalese fail to realise the concerns of the Tamil population, then it will be very difficult for them to go on like this," he added. "The people are ready to move this freedom struggle forward all over the northeast."
Appeal for peace in Sri Lanka
[ YMCA ] [ 11:40 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The World Alliance of YMCAs is deeply concerned about the recent escalation of violence in Sri Lanka and the risk that this will lead again to Civil War. Since the Presidential election of November 2005 over 100 people have died in acts of violence. The Peace, Reconciliation & Reconstruction committee of the National YMCA of Sri Lanka, working hand in hand with other NGOs, is asking for our help to demand peace. As National General Secretary of Sri Lanka, Chrisantha Hettiaratchi, said in his letter to the World Alliance, 'Last Christmas we asked for Tsunami emergency relief, this year we seek your support for peace.'
Sri Lanka Still Wed to System
[ Los Angeles Times ] [ 12:26 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
Every Sunday, newspapers here are filled with classified ads for marriage partners. But for Americans accustomed to the personals staples "SWF" and "must love cats," the descriptions can be mystifying. "Sinhala Buddhist Govi mother seeks professionally qualified partner for youngest daughter," read a recent ad in the Sri Lankan Sunday Observer. "Reply with caste and religion material, horoscope." The ad, referring to the elite land-tilling Govi Gama caste, spotlights a system that locked islanders into a rigid social hierarchy for centuries. But numerous chisels are chipping away at its power, including better education, increasing wealth, fewer arranged marriages, a stronger civil service recruited on merit and the shift from agrarian to urban life.
Will Lanka miss the peace bus again?
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 12:32 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The Norwegian peace broker Erik Solheim is to meet the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in Kilinochchi on Wednesday with a message from the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Sri Lankans pin high hopes on this crucial meeting because their country is now on the threshold of yet another round of hostilities, already codenamed "Eelam War IV" by veteran defence analyst Iqbal Athas. In the Tamil-speaking North, the LTTE has been saying that the "final push" to secure an independent Tamil Eelam by force is on the cards. Thousands of Tamils have fled to the LTTE-controlled areas from government-controlled areas in Jaffna fearing a Sri Lankan onslaught.
Envoy arrives for Sri Lanka talks
[ BBC ] [ 12:35 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
A senior Norwegian envoy has arrived in Sri Lanka for talks aimed at preventing a return to civil war. Erik Solheim is due to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse and Tamil Tiger rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran. Mr Solheim helped broker a truce in 2002, but violence that has left more than 120 people dead in recent weeks has prompted fears it no longer holds. As he arrived, three soldiers died in a landmine explosion in the east, which the army blamed on the Tamil Tigers. The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says Mr Solheim's visit is being seen as a crucial attempt to save the four-year-old ceasefire. Although neither side has officially withdrawn from the peace process, expectations that he will bring them to talks are not high, she says.
White House Announces Nomination for Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs: Ambassador Richard A. Boucher
[ US Embassy - Colombo ] [ 17:31 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The White House announced on January 17 that United States President George W. Bush's intends to nominate Richard A. Boucher, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs. Ambassador Boucher is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister. He most recently served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs at the Department of State. Prior to this, he served as the United States Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Ambassador Boucher served as U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus and Consul General in Hong Kong. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Principal Officer in Shanghai, China. Ambassador Boucher received his bachelor's degree from Tufts University.
[ Bloomberg ] [ 01:53 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
Envoys from Norway and the U.S. visit Sri Lanka today to try to broker peace talks to support a 2002 cease-fire that is in danger of collapsing amid increasing violence between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. Erik Solheim, Norway's minister of international development, will meet government and rebel leaders during a four-day visit. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns is visiting Colombo to meet Solheim and Sri Lankan officials, the U.S. embassy said in a statement. Burns ``will call again for the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to resume talks on strengthening the cease-fire agreement as soon as possible,'' the U.S. embassy said.
US Tamils question timing of Ambassador Lunstead's speech
[ TamilNet ] [ 07:38 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
Questioning Ambassador Lunstead's "reckless exercise at a time of great risk to the peace process, and just a few days before Mr. Erik Solheim's visit, which everyone was looking to as the only way of defusing an extremely dangerous situation," US Tamils, in a memorandum to Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice and to Mr Nicholas Burns, the U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs, said they hoped that Mr. Burns, who will be in Sri Lanka during Mr. Solheim's visit, "will clarify to everyone what US policy is at this critical time, and help revive the peace track."
Peace envoy arrives in Sri Lanka
[ CNN ] [ 07:42 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
A top Norwegian envoy arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday on a mission to save the cease-fire he negotiated four years ago and prevent the island nation from slipping back into war. In meetings through Wednesday, envoy Eric Solheim, was to confer with President Mahinda Rajapakse and travel to the Tamil Tiger rebels' capital of Kilinochchi to meet with their reclusive leader, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, officials said. Separately, the rebels' peace negotiator, Anton Balasingham, also arrived from his home in London. Balasingham, who holds a British passport, will aid Prabhakaran during talks with Solheim. Solheim, who brokered the 2002 cease-fire, also planned to meet with U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns later Monday, the U.S. Embassy said. Burns will discuss the peace process with Sri Lankan officials, Solheim and others "to reiterate the strong U.S. desire to see all Sri Lankans work for peace," the embassy said in a statement before his arrival.
Balasingham arrives in Kilinochchi
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 07:45 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
LTTE theoretician and chief negotiator Mr. Anton Balasingam and his wife Adel Balasingam arrived in Kilinochchi by Sri Lankan Air force helicopter on 23rd January around 9.00 am. Traveling along with Mr. and Mrs. Balasingam was Ms. Helen Olafsdottir, spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and Oddvar Lagreid, second secretary of the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Mr. and Mrs. Balasingam were received by many people and LTTE senior members including Head of the Political Wing, Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan, Chief of the Sea tigers Col. Soosai, Senior member K.V. Balakumaran, Tamileelam educational head Mr. Ilankumaran, Head of the Tamileelam Judicial section Mr. Para and Head of the women's political wing Ms. Thamilini.
New Sri Lanka blast ahead of peace talks
[ Reuters ] [ 11:34 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The patrol was ambushed with a deadly claymore fragmentation mine, a block of plastic explosive which blasts out ball bearings. It was the latest in a string of attacks that have killed more than 70 armed forces personnel since December.The attack came just hours after peace envoy Erik Solheim touched down in Sri Lanka for a three-day visit to try to convince the government and the rebels to agree on a venue for talks to haul a 2002 truce back from breaking point."People are really angry and frustrated with the Sri Lankan government ... who are using the military as an iron fist to suppress their democratic rights and aspirations," S Puleedevan, head of the rebels' Peace Secretariat, said by telephone from Kilinochchi."If the Sri Lankan government and southern Sinhalese fail to realise the concerns of the Tamil population, then it will be very difficult for them to go on like this," he added. "The people are ready to move this freedom struggle forward all over the northeast."
Appeal for peace in Sri Lanka
[ YMCA ] [ 11:40 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The World Alliance of YMCAs is deeply concerned about the recent escalation of violence in Sri Lanka and the risk that this will lead again to Civil War. Since the Presidential election of November 2005 over 100 people have died in acts of violence. The Peace, Reconciliation & Reconstruction committee of the National YMCA of Sri Lanka, working hand in hand with other NGOs, is asking for our help to demand peace. As National General Secretary of Sri Lanka, Chrisantha Hettiaratchi, said in his letter to the World Alliance, 'Last Christmas we asked for Tsunami emergency relief, this year we seek your support for peace.'
Sri Lanka Still Wed to System
[ Los Angeles Times ] [ 12:26 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
Every Sunday, newspapers here are filled with classified ads for marriage partners. But for Americans accustomed to the personals staples "SWF" and "must love cats," the descriptions can be mystifying. "Sinhala Buddhist Govi mother seeks professionally qualified partner for youngest daughter," read a recent ad in the Sri Lankan Sunday Observer. "Reply with caste and religion material, horoscope." The ad, referring to the elite land-tilling Govi Gama caste, spotlights a system that locked islanders into a rigid social hierarchy for centuries. But numerous chisels are chipping away at its power, including better education, increasing wealth, fewer arranged marriages, a stronger civil service recruited on merit and the shift from agrarian to urban life.
Will Lanka miss the peace bus again?
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 12:32 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The Norwegian peace broker Erik Solheim is to meet the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in Kilinochchi on Wednesday with a message from the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Sri Lankans pin high hopes on this crucial meeting because their country is now on the threshold of yet another round of hostilities, already codenamed "Eelam War IV" by veteran defence analyst Iqbal Athas. In the Tamil-speaking North, the LTTE has been saying that the "final push" to secure an independent Tamil Eelam by force is on the cards. Thousands of Tamils have fled to the LTTE-controlled areas from government-controlled areas in Jaffna fearing a Sri Lankan onslaught.
Envoy arrives for Sri Lanka talks
[ BBC ] [ 12:35 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
A senior Norwegian envoy has arrived in Sri Lanka for talks aimed at preventing a return to civil war. Erik Solheim is due to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse and Tamil Tiger rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran. Mr Solheim helped broker a truce in 2002, but violence that has left more than 120 people dead in recent weeks has prompted fears it no longer holds. As he arrived, three soldiers died in a landmine explosion in the east, which the army blamed on the Tamil Tigers. The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says Mr Solheim's visit is being seen as a crucial attempt to save the four-year-old ceasefire. Although neither side has officially withdrawn from the peace process, expectations that he will bring them to talks are not high, she says.
White House Announces Nomination for Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs: Ambassador Richard A. Boucher
[ US Embassy - Colombo ] [ 17:31 GMT, Jan. 23, 2006 ]
The White House announced on January 17 that United States President George W. Bush's intends to nominate Richard A. Boucher, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs. Ambassador Boucher is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister. He most recently served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs at the Department of State. Prior to this, he served as the United States Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Ambassador Boucher served as U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus and Consul General in Hong Kong. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Principal Officer in Shanghai, China. Ambassador Boucher received his bachelor's degree from Tufts University.