International

Militants asked to surrender weapons

COLOMBO MARCH 10. All ex-militant Tamil parties in Vavuniya have been ordered by the military authorities to surrender their weapons by tomorrow morning.

The representatives of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) and the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) were asked to surrender all firearms they possessed within the next 48 hours by the Wanni SF commander, Maj. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda, at a special conference on Saturday.

The Sri Lanka Army has been entrusted with the task of disarming all Tamil paramilitary groups operating in areas held by the SLA in the northeast province as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE on February 22.

The PLOTE in Jaffna earlier on March 7 surrendered a part of its weapons, ammunition and a van it were using.

Meanwhile, the LTTE has named 12 representatives for the ceasefire monitoring committees.

The names were disclosed as international monitors from Nordic states prepared to open their headquarters in Kilinochchi district.

The Government was yet to announce its representatives to the monitoring committees. The monitoring mission, headed by international monitors, will maintain its presence in the districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara, and will have access to other areas as well.

The LTTE has chosen well-known Catholic priests and professionals as nominees.

— UNI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Kashmir one of the core issues: Sushma
• Riyadh offers Israel `complete peace plan'
• Cheney to build support against terrorism
• SAARC eases travel curbs on journalists
• Awami League sponsoring terrorism, says Khaleda
• Massive turn-out on second day of voting
• U.S. says list targets China
• Bush to unveil next phase of campaign
• Storm over Iraq ahead of Cheney's visit to U.K.
• Militants asked to surrender weapons
• Khaleda condemns Gujarat killings
• Rift among Afghan troops over Gardez battle
• U.S. `plan' against Russia may affect talks

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu