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10-06-2006

Govt rejects LTTE's lame excuses

Saturday, June 10,2006

COLOMBO: Dismissing the LTTE's reasons for pulling out from Oslo talks as lame excuses, the Government on Friday called upon the international community to help push the Tigers back to the negotiating table. Addressing reporters at the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Information Department, Government Spokesman and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said that despite the "Oslo tantrums" the Government will remain committed to the peace process, upholding the ceasefire. He said the LTTE move was "unexpected, inexplicable and shocking" for both the Government and the facilitators. The Minister said the Government delegation was announced well in advance and the LTTE knew the delegation and its composition before they left for Oslo. "It is absurd to propose a few minutes before the talks that the Government delegation should be headed by a minister." The Government decided to proceed to Oslo following several internal deliberations, on the assumption that these talks will lead to the resumption of Geneva talks.

The Minister said the facilitators expressed similar optimism. Thus this irresponsible and high-handed action has also caused embarrassment to Norway, undermining their initiative to discuss the future of the SLMM in the Sri Lankan peace process and the safety of their field monitors.

Following the recent visits of Norway's International Development Minister Erik Solheim and Special envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer, during which they also held separate discussions with the LTTE in Kilinochchi, the invitation was extended to the Government and the LTTE to hold the two-day Oslo meeting.

Responding to media queries, he added this recent action clearly shows that the LTTE has no regard for the facilitators, the international community or the Co-Chairs.

The LTTE informed they were not attending the meeting a moment before it was to be commenced on Thursday morning. Two reasons were given to justify their action; not having a ministerial member in the Government delegation and demanding the eviction of SLMM members belonging to the EU states (Denmark, Sweden and Finland).

Minister Yapa questioned whether the LTTE would also seek the withdrawal of many humanitarian organisations in the North and East with EU representation, which mainly serve ordinary Tamil civilians affected by the conflict.

The Minister argued that this was absurd when the facilitators had already clarified the EU ban will not have an impact on the SLMM as the Scandinavian members are appointed in their individual capacities.

Source-SAMN