'Air raids checked LTTE's fresh offensive'

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JULY 1. The Sri Lankan Government today said the Air Force, which carried out bombings in the Jaffna peninsula on Saturday, had been successful in ``retarding'' the LTTE's plans for a major attack in the north.

The state-run radio, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, quoting unnamed sources, said the LTTE had suffered heavy casualties, causing a setback to its plans to launch a major offensive to take back the peninsula.

The radio said the Government's action to abort the LTTE's offensive underlined the importance of extending the Emergency in the country.

The minority ruling People's Alliance coalition, which faces a no-confidence motion later this month, will undergo its first test of strength this week, when Parliament meets to vote on the monthly extension of the Emergency.

The Daily News on Saturday warned in an editorial that the Emergency was a measure to preserve Sri Lanka's territorial integrity, and any move to defeat the motion for its extension would tantamount to ``an anti-national act''.

The Government's approach to its political problems seems to have caused concern outside Sri Lanka for the fall-out that it might have on the peace process. A lengthy statement from the Government explaining the reasons for the bombing made no reference to the peace process, or its commitment to resolving the conflict through political negotiations.

India `disappointed'

Hours after the air raids, there was a sharp reminder from New Delhi that there was no substitute to the political resolution of the island's conflict. Even though Sri Lanka has said it was acting in self-defence, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said India was ``disappointed'' at the developments in Sri Lanka.

The Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi, conveyed India's ``views'' to the Sri Lanka Foreign Minister, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, on Saturday.

Chandrika returns

Meanwhile, the state-run Sunday Observer reported today that Ms. Kumaratunga, who had gone to London to visit her daughter, returned on Saturday night.

Her sudden departure early last week after handing over the powers of her office to the Prime Minister generated considerable speculation, especially as this is a politically- sensitive time for her PA Government.

The Opposition United National Party (UNP) has moved a no- confidence motion in Parliament against the Government, which is now in a minority after a walk-out from the alliance by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress last month.

True to the style Sri Lanka watchers have grown accustomed to in the last five years, the Government has begun to play the Sinhala card to counter the UNP threat, linking the no- confidence motion with the reported plan by the LTTE to launch a major attack in the Jaffna peninsula.

The state-run Daily News described the UNP no-confidence motion and the reported LTTE plans for a major attack in the north as a ``two-pronged attack'' to destabilise the country.

State media also gave wide coverage to a statement by a parliamentarian of TELO, one of three Tamil parties backing the no-confidence venture, that in return for their support, the UNP had promised to lift the ban on LTTE and hold unconditional talks with it.

The Government apparently hopes that this might make opposition Sinhala parliamentarians fearful of supporting the no- confidence vote.

The UNP's protest that it was a state newspaper that had recently recommended ``a temporary legal measure'' to ``provide some validity for the LTTE's participation in peace negotiations'', interpreted as a push for de-proscription, was to no avail.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Key pact to save crop diversity
Next     : 'Summit must announce freeze on n-programmes'