Chandrika rules out Army withdrawal

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, APRIL 2. The Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, has ruled out withdrawal of troops from the battle zones, and said that a de- escalation of the conflict would be considered as and when talks with the separatist LTTE progress.

Reiterating the Government position that there would be no pull- out of troops, the President said in an interview to the Sunday Observer that ``she will not allow the withdrawal of troops `even if i am killed'. However, as and when talks with the LTTE progress, a de-escalation could be considered.''

The President's observation comes in the backdrop of a stepped-up offensive by the Tigers in the Jaffna peninsula since March 27. While there has been a lull in the fighting between Government forces and the rebels, the LTTE had earlier gained access to the south-eastern sector of the peninsula by over- running three military camps.

The aggression is seen as a strategy by the rebel outfit to ``bargain from a position of strength'' in any future talks with the Government, for which steps are under way through a Norwegian initiative.

The Government is also holding talks with the main Opposition United National Party (UNP) on reaching a southern consensus to offer a political settlement to end the conflict. These talks, the President said, would extend beyond the one-month framework, which was initially hoped.

Ms. Kumaratunga termed the ongoing talks with the UNP ``satisfactory'' and said that at present, the emphasis was on broadening and strengthening the democratic structure. An area of disagreement between the Government and the UNP - the unit of devolution - had been held back for discussion at a later phase because of its complex character.

Heavy casualties

Heavy casualties have been reported from the battlefront, with the Defence Ministry placing the number of fatalities at 82 - 65 rebels and 17 soldiers - since March 31. The number of wounded in the confrontations has been placed at 94 soldiers and six LTTE cadre.

A Defence Ministry release said that 17 soldiers were killed on Saturday northwest of Iyakachchi, a crucial base north of the Elephant Pass military complex. There was a lull in the fighting this morning with the rebels announcing an easing of fire to enable civilians to cross over to safer areas.

Fighting was also reported from Thanankilappu when militants fired ``a heavy volume of mortar fire, followed by machine gun and small arms fire, towards the Thanankilappu detachment''. While three militants were killed in Thanankilappu, 10 rebels were killed by Army snipers in Nagar Kovil, north of the three camps overrun by the rebels a few days ago.

The offensive had resulted in an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by Ms. Kumaratunga. Senior military officials have also been stationed in the Jaffna peninsula to oversee the military operations.

Ultimatum to Govt.

Reuters reports:

Families of hundreds of security personnel missing in the war pledged today to march to rebel-controlled areas to free their kin if the Government did not secure their release by mid- April. ``It was an unanimous decision,'' Mr. E.P. Nanayakkara, president of the association of the relatives of servicemen missing in action, said after an emotionally-charged meeting of more than a thousand relatives in the capital Colombo.

``We are not afraid of the security risks,'' Mr. Nanayakkara said.

He said a group of sailors held by the LTTE had written to Ms. Kumaratunga, saying they would launch a fast unto death unless the Government took steps by April 13 to secure their freedom. ``If the government does not meet this deadline, we will march to the (LTTE-held) Wanni region with or without support from the authorities,'' Mr. Nanayakkara said.

``If they don't let us past the security checkpoints in the north, we will start our death fast there,'' he said.

The LTTE had freed three soldiers and a sailor in February after the Government allowed some relatives to visit Wanni. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which arranged the visit, said that the LTTE still held 11 security personnel and 12 civilians.

Mr. Nanayakkara said he had evidence that more than 1,000 servicemen were still held captive by the rebels.

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Section  : International
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