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Norway's ambassador to Colombo to remain till April
Frederica Jansz in Colombo,
7 a.m. SLT Wednesday January 8.
The transfer of Jon Westborg, Norway's Ambassador in Colombo, has been
postponed to April this year.
Westborg was due to be transferred this month but his departure has been
postponed till April this year, so Westborg can participate in more
discussions between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.
Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen has said that Westborg's
transfer from Colombo was decided in 2001 before peace talks began between
the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. He says however that Westborg will
now remain in the Island for another four months to continue facilitating
the local peace process in which Westborg has played a pivotal role.
Westborg has served six years as head of Norway's diplomatic mission in Sri
Lanka. His transfer, the Norwegian government asserts is routine and not
linked to recent controversies where Westborg has been accused by President
Chandrika Kumaratunge of having violated diplomatic immunity as well as
having acted partially, towards the LTTE.
Published: Tue Jan 7 20:04:33 EST 2003
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ASK WIMAL!
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This session has now ended!
ANSWERS 1-17, 22-23 HERE!.
The Lanka Academic is delighted to announce its next guest in its
series of Q & A sessions: Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, the Propaganda
Secretary, a member of the Political Bureau, and the leader of the
group of Parliamentarians of People's Liberation Front (JVP), in Sri
Lanka. Submit your questions for Mr. Weerawansa and view his answers
here. As usual, we will forward your questions to
him in batches and will post the answers as they arrive.
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Tamil Tiger rebels pull out of key committee during peace talks
Associated Press,
Tue January 7, 2003 09:57 EST .
SHIMALI SENANAYAKE - Associated Press Writer - NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand (AP) Sri Lanka - 's Tamil Tiger rebels pulled out of talks with the government on military reductions Tuesday, the first major setback to hit negotiations on ending the country's 19-year civil war. -The setback Tuesday centered on the issue of demilitarizing the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka - , where most of the fighting has taken place. The two armies have maintained a fragile cease-fire since February. In a recent report, the Sri Lankan army commander of northern provinces, Maj. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, demanded that the Tamil Tigers disarm first before army camps can be dismantled in high security zones former civilian areas in the north bordering Tiger strongholds. The Tigers say the high security zones must be vacated first to allow the resettlement of some 10,000 Tamil families who were forced to flee the area because of the fighting.``We have decided to suspend participating in the (committee) because of the unfair and impossible conditions,'' Balasingham said. The rebels' pullout appeared to be aimed at forcing the government to back off its demands, rather than scuttle the talks. Balasingham said the Tigers will continue to participate in another committee on rehabilitation and resettlement, as well as in the broader peace talks. ``There is no threat whatsoever to the talks,'' he said. There was no immediate comment from the government side. Balasingham blamed the crisis on hardline elements in the military, who he said were taking orders from President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who has often accused her political rival Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe of making too many concessions in the talks. Meanwhile, negotiators agreed Tuesday to seek the help of Amnesty International's former secretary-general, Ian Martin, in ensuring human rights in the police and prisons of both sides. The Tigers who run their own administration in the north have their own police, prisons and judicial system.
Published: Tue Jan 7 10:44:31 EST 2003
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Sri Lanka rebels recruiting children despite truce
Yahoo India,
07 December.
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers are still recruiting child soldiers despite months of peace talks and past promises to stop the practice, aid workers and truce monitors said on Tuesday. Monitors overseeing a Norwegian-brokered truce in place since February said they received daily complaints from parents who said their children, some as young as 12, had been snatched to serve the rebel army.
The issue was raised on Tuesday during peace talks in Thailand between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) aimed at ending one of Asia's longest running wars.
More...
Published: Tue Jan 7 10:46:52 EST 2003
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