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Sri Lanka Donor Co-Chairs Call for Early Return to Peace Talks
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,
SLT 7.30 A.M Wednesday 18 February.
The co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of
Sri Lanka (the United States, European Union, Japan, and Norway) Yesterday
called for the earliest possible resumption of peac talks, which has been
suspended since April last year. The Co-Chairs met in Washington yesterday
to discuss the international community's support of Sri Lanka's peace
process. A statement issued by the US State Department said the co-chair
group is pleased to note that in cooperation with the Sri Lankan Monitoring
Mission, the parties have largely upheld the ceasefire in Sri Lanka for two
years. With each passing month more displaced Sri Lankans return to their
homes and more humanitarian demining occurs. The co-chairs applaud these
indicators of peace. Co- Chairs say , A return to the peace table, along
with strict adherence to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, is essential
to sustain the peace process for the benefit of all ethnic communities in
Sri Lanka.
The co-chairs expressed their disappointment at the breakdown of
"co-habitation" efforts between the President and the Prime Minister. They
call on all political figures to work to ensure that parliamentary elections
scheduled for April 2 are free, fair, and peaceful, and conducted in an
atmosphere free of political violence throughout the country. They
underscore the importance that campaign rhetoric must be devoid of religious
and ethnic intolerance and must not be used in ways that undermine the
important gains that have been made in the peace process. The co-chairs
encourage donors to provide support for independent local and international
election monitors and call on all parties to ensure that they can carry out
their mission in safety. After the elections conclude, the co-chairs urge
the political parties to work expeditiously to establish clarity of
responsibilities, so that the peace process - and the entire process of
governance - can resume, regardless of the outcome of elections. The
co-chairs welcomed the LTTE's statements of commitment to the ceasefire and
to negotiations. The co-chairs encourage them to act responsibly during and
after the election campaign.
The co-chairs reiterated their continued determination to implement their
assistance pledged at the Tokyo Conference, based on the principles of the
Tokyo Declaration, which makes clear that assistance by the donor community
must be closely linked to substantial and parallel progress in the peace
process. In the meantime, mindful of the Tokyo Declaration, the co-chairs
recognized that there are particularly urgent needs for assistance for
people in the war-torn areas and throughout Sri Lanka. The co-chairs call on
all donors to continue delivering humanitarian relief and rehabilitation
assistance to all needy areas of the country. The co-chairs will convene a
meeting at an early date after the elections.
Published: Tue Feb 17 20:55:08 EST 2004
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S . Lanka Marxist chief apologises for past violence
alertnet.org,
February 17, 2004.
COLOMBO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The leader of Sri Lanka's Marxist JVP party apologised for the first time on Tuesday for past bloodshed caused by his party, in a surprise gesture as the JVP bids for power in general elections.
The JVP, which led rebellions in 1971 and 1987-89 in which more than 80,000 people died, renounced violence in 1994 and entered mainstream politics.
Last month, it signed a pact with President Chandrika Kumaratunga's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the two will run on a common platform in the April 2 elections.
Somawansa Amarasinghe, who has lived in exile for most of the past decade, said his People's Liberation Front (JVP) had learned from its mistakes and was now a different party.
More...
Published: Tue Feb 17 17:59:27 EST 2004
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Conflict and Peace Analyst says Peace Process Is Flawed -
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,
SLT 6.00 A.M Wednesday 18 February.
Head of Conflict and Peace Analysis, of the Centre for Policy Alternatives,
Kethesh Logananthan says the government’s peace process is flawed and one
should re-look at the process. He said the exclusion of the President of the
country created conditions to the subsequent developments in the country.
Addressing a seminar titled ‘Politics of Peace’ organized by the
Bandaraniake Center for International Studies, Loganathan said “ LTTE
controlled, Kilinochcchi and Mulativu was excluded from the ceasefire
agreement and the SLMM was not allowed to operate. One cannot say that LTTE
must be allowed to bring arms to maintain military balance. It is also
undemocratic for any single organization to say they are the sole
representatives of a community. There should be inclusiveness in the North
and the East” He also said that Norway’s playing of a dual role, as a
facilitator and monitor could not be accepted. Loganathan accused the
Norwegians and the Peace Secretariat of trying to manage information. He
said “ We saw series of misinformation and spin in the last two years and
mere public relations exercises rather than creating awareness among the
people.”
Kumar Rupasinghe, an advisor to the Reconciliation Programme pointed out
that the cabinet did not know the suffering of the people in the North and
the East and a minister was appalled by the conditions of the people in the
North during a visit to the area. Prof. Nick Haysom, former South African
President, Nelson Mandela’s Constitutional Advisor who delivered the keynote
address emphasized that peace process must deliver at grass root level. He
said “ Peace itself is a benefit” Senior lecturer in political science at
the Colombo, university Dayan Jayatlleka noted that living conditions of
people eroded during the period of negotiations and it allowed extremism to
rise and the process of appeasement in the peace process opened doors in the
South. “ One must oppose extremism of North as well as in the South. During
the April 2 elections two major communities might vote either way and it
could lead to politics of war not peace” Jayatileke warned.
Published: Tue Feb 17 18:57:52 EST 2004
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