Date:26/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/26/stories/2004112603351400.htm

International

Restrict Army to barracks, say Sri Lankan Tamil MPs

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, NOV. 25. Proceedings in the Sri Lankan Parliament came to an abrupt end this evening, as MPs from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) staged an hour-long sit-in in the well of the House, demanding that the Army be restricted to its barracks in the Tamil-majority north-east province.

The MPs demanded a "responsible answer" from the Deputy Defence Minister on reported attacks on a TNA MP and Tamil civilians since yesterday in the northern Mannar district.

MPs' charge

The MPs charged the Government with "attempts to disturb" the ongoing Heroes' Week commemorative functions and the LTTE leader, V. Prabakaran's 50th birthday tomorrow. They prepared hurriedly-written protest notes and declared they would continue their sit-in on Saturday — when Parliament would discuss a vote on the second reading of the Budget — until the Deputy Defence Minister made a statement.

As the Deputy Defence Minister, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, was not present, the MPs said they were not satisfied with an assurance of an "impartial inquiry" given by the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. Turning down their demand that the Army should be confined to the barracks, Mr. Fernandopulle said: "No Government can give such an assurance." After efforts by the Speaker, W.J.M. Lokubandara, to end the protest failed, the House was adjourned .

`Prepared to discuss'

Earlier, speaking on the budget proposals, the TNA parliamentary group leader, R. Sampanthan, said the "LTTE is also prepared to discuss any further proposals that the Government may bring to the negotiating table" after agreeing to resume talks on the basis of the proposals for an interim self-governing authority (ISGA) submitted by the LTTE last year. "Any agreement interim of final has to be within the framework of an undivided country," he said.

Referring to the public position expressed by Sri Lanka's main Opposition United National Party (UNP) and its "unconditional support" to "any agreement arrived at between the Government and the LTTE," Mr. Sampanthan said, "the Government is assured of a two-thirds majority in Parliament" for any agreement with the LTTE.