International
`LTTE guarantee on Tamil rights will be in MoU'
By Nirupama Subramanian
COLOMBO
FEB. 7.
A guarantee from the LTTE on safeguarding rights of Tamil civilians in northeast Sri Lanka is to be incorporated in a proposed ceasefire agreement, a senior Minister said today. A delegation from Norway led by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgesen, arrived here today for discussions with the Government on the draft ceasefire agreement, which is expected to be finalised soon.
The Cabinet spokesperson, G.L. Peiris, said the Government had conveyed to the LTTE through Norway, which is facilitating the peace process, its concern at reports of child conscription, extortion, abductions and killings by the group since the present truce began last Christmas. The President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, had expressed concern at the reports earlier this week and said such activities by the LTTE would weaken the peace process. At a press conference today, Mr. Peiris said this was one of the "priority issues'' being discussed for incorporation into the final memorandum of understanding between the two sides.
Another matter being discussed for the ceasefire was the security of members or sympathisers of non-LTTE Tamil groups, who have been constant targets of the LTTE. The Minister said the Government's security considerations, in the light of concern that the LTTE would use the ceasefire to build itself up militarily, were also receiving close attention, with the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, in constant touch with the Defence Minister and the three service chiefs.
Reiterating that the Government was "very satisfied'' with the progress on the ceasefire agreement, Mr. Peiris played down earlier optimism that it would be finalised and signed by February 24, and said what was important was that the agreement should be sound rather than quick.
He said the perception that the peace process had become one-sided with the Government making all the concessions was incorrect and that this would become apparent when the final document on the agreement was made public.
The Norwegian delegation was expected to meet Mr. Wickremesinghe and other members of the Government directly involved in the peace process over today and Friday. They are also scheduled to meet Ms. Kumaratunga.
AFP reports:
The Norwegian Prime Minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik told the BBC in Madrid that the LTTE ``appeared to be willing'' to give up its long-standing demand for a separate homeland following approaches from Norway. He also said he was optimistic of bringing the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to the negotiating table by the middle of the year.
The ``only realistic approach to any lasting peace agreement would be for the Tamil Tigers to give up their claim to the creation of a separate Tamil homeland'', Mr. Bondevik said, adding ``this they appeared to be willing to do.''
He said Colombo must in return do a ``great deal of work'' to achieve equal conditions for the minority Tamils.
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