LTTE warns of permanent damage to peace

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JULY 2. As Sri Lanka Air Force bombers continued their raids in Jaffna peninsula, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) today warned that the attacks would ``permanently'' damage the peace process.

``The Sri Lanka Government should bear total responsibility for the adverse consequences that might arise from its misplaced strategy of escalating the conditions of war in the Tamil homeland,'' it said in a statement.

The Government today said the Air Force hit LTTE targets in northern Sri Lanka for a second day on Sunday, causing ``heavy damages''.

An earlier statement from the Government said the air-raids were ``pre-emptive'' as there were indications that the LTTE was preparing for a massive attack in Jaffna peninsula.

Denying it had plans to launch an offensive in the peninsula, the LTTE accused the Government of whipping up Sinhala patriotism as a response to the political crisis facing the ruling People's Alliance.

India has responded sharply to the air-raids, expressing ``disappointment'' at the ``events'' in Sri Lanka and reiterating its support for the peace process, stalled since last month over an LTTE demand that the Government lift the ban on it.

Also, Norway, the official facilitator, has yet to make a move after the Sri Lankan Government's request to it to upgrade its role, in other words, sideline the special envoy, Mr Erik Solheim.

The minority PA Government faces the first round of the numbers battle ahead later this week, when the motion on the extension of the Emergency is put to vote. In a bid to ward off defeat in Parliament, the Government today warned that if the emergency regulations lapsed, the ban on the LTTE would automatically cease to exist.

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Section  : International
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