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Diplomatic sources reveal that Norway believes that the government and the LTTE would resume talks by next week. At a media briefing Minister Rambukwella said, when the government insisted for a personal commitment from Tiger Leader Prabakaran, it is said that his response to it has been conveyed to the government through the facilitator Norway.According to reports emanating from Colombo Prabakaran is keen in ending this conflict which has lasted more than 3 decades. A request made by Norway special envoy Eric Solhiem to meet Prabakaran has been turned down sighting security reasons.

Though talks were held between SLMM chief and Thamil Selvan yesterday at Kilinochchi nothing was revealed about the outcome of the talks to the media.SLMM chief Maj. Gen. Lars Johan Solvberg has said that the government and the LTTE have flouted the CFA several times during the last 2 months. According to him closing of Mavil Aru was an instance that the LTTE flouted the CFA and capturing Sampur was an instance that the government flouted the CFA.Minister Rambukwella speaking in this matter said a democratically elected government and a terrorist organization cannot be treated on the equal footing and the sLMM has no power to do it.

Norwegian special envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will reach Sri Lanka Sunday to lay the groundwork for talks between the government and the Tamil Tigers, even while India has sought an early resumption of dialogue between the two parties. Hanssen-Bauer's trip follows the announcement in Colombo Wednesday that Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran had assured the government that his group was ready to enter into 'sincere talks' to find a solution to the ethnic conflict.IANS learns that Hanssen-Bauer will meet government leaders in Colombo and then travel to Kilinochchi in the north to meet leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to know their minds on the possible venue and dates when they can meet and take forward their repeatedly interrupted peace dialogue.

As and when the security situation improves, Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim will also proceed to Sri Lanka for a meeting with Prabhakaran, the man at the centre of the nearly quarter century long conflict.Solheim was the last international personality to meet Prabhakaran in January this year. That meeting had produced hope that the spiraling violence would die down. But that did not happen, and Sri Lanka is now enveloped in the worst conflict phase since a Norway-brokered ceasefire was signed by the LTTE and Colombo in 2002.

The decisions on visits by Hanssen-Bauer and Solheim follow some hectic Norwegian diplomacy and a meeting of the international support group on Sri Lanka in Washington Wednesday, all aimed at ending a violence spree that has claimed hundreds of lives this year and dislodged hundreds of thousands from their homes in the island's northeast.India, which is in touch with all international players, is also pushing for early talks. Through the day Wednesday, various officials and politicians here conveyed the message to three visiting Sri Lankan Tamil politicians.

Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran in particular emphasized the need for all violence to end and for negotiations to resume in Sri Lanka. Ahamed was particularly concerned about the increasing attacks on Muslims in the island's northeast.This was conveyed during discussions with Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree, D. Sitharthan of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOT) and T. Sritharan of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF). All three groups oppose the LTTE.

The trio was also told that New Delhi was doing its best, without much fanfare, to prepare a possible consensus between the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the main opposition United National Party on the need to devolve powers to the minorities.India, the visitors were told, would under no circumstances agree to any break up of Sri Lanka. But it wanted Colombo to give a 'reasonable solution', based on the federal system of governance, to the Tamil minority so as to end the ethnic conflict that has left over 65,000 dead since 1983.

In their discussions, Anandasangaree, Sitharthan and Sritharan blamed both LTTE and Colombo for the sufferings of the ordinary people caught in the conflict and said that any forward movement in the peace process should lay emphasis on democracy and a stop to all killings in the island's northeast.The Indian thinking was similarly conveyed earlier to five Sri Lankan MPs belonging to the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) when they visited New Delhi.India strongly backs the driver's seat Norway occupies in the internationally supported Sri Lankan peace process. It is believed that Solheim will stop over in New Delhi after he visits Colombo and Kilinochchi.

The United States is hopeful of continued progress in finding a peaceful solution to the ethnic crisis in the strife-torn Sri Lanka through negotiations, US Ambassador to India David C Mulford said today. The US envoy, who called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence here, told reporters that progress in peace talks would bring about a system that would ensure stability and peace in the island. It would also stem the exodus of refugees from the country, he added. Describing his 30-minute meeting with Mr Karunanidhi as "very, very friendly," Dr Mulford said he had looked forward to meet the Chief Minister as "he is a very respected and reputed leader in India."

The US Ambassador also said he was impressed with the investment-friendly climate prevailing in Tamil Nadu. There were number of US companies which had set up business in the state, he pointed out. Besides the Lankan issue, he also discussed with Mr Karunanidhi import of wheat from the US, he added. Asked about Wednesday's email threat to the US Consulate here that a human bomb would blow up the office, Mr Mulford said he was aware of it but nothing had happened. Mr David T Hopper, US Consul General, Chennai, said the Tamil Nadu police had been cooperating and extending full support in security aspects. "We have been well taken care of," he added.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna parliamentarian and former politburo member Nandana Gunathilake who was constantly in the headlines over the past few weeks has decided to resign from the party, 'Lanka e News' reliably learns.It is reported that his letter of resignation has already been drafted and will be handed over to the party General Secretary Tylvin Silva within the next couple of days. However he will not step down from his parliamentary seat.Earlier Gunathilake, a former presidential candidate of the party was removed from the party's politburo. According to internal JVP sources he has cited that the JVP?s politics would not contribute the progress of the country and has alleged that the party is engaged in an opportunistic politics on the needs of Weerawansa and Somawansa without adopting a policy-based political program, as reasons for his resignation.

After the 88-89 brutal crackdown of the JVP, he was instrumental in rebuilding the party without fleeing the country and became the party's presidential candidate at the 1999 presidential election. Earlier JVP's Gampaha district parliamentarian Siripala Amarasinghe, who was an older member than even Gunathilake, resigned his parliamentary seat as well as party membership.The reason for their decision to leave the party is Somawansa-Weerawansa, Vijitha Herath clan's opportunistic policies, running the party as yet another capitalist party filled with lies and duplicity without any Marxist, radical dynamism and for adopting an extreme racist stand on the national problem. They have exerted pressure on the party leadership to initiate an immediate dialogue with the LTTE leadership.A powerful faction of the JVP headed by Gunathilake which includes several parliamentarians shares this view and one of the elusive yet influential members of the party, its Internal Secretary 'Kumar'- a Tamil- is also in this faction.A member of this group told 'Lanka e News' that General Secretary Tylvin Silva has become a 'watered down' character in this episode.

Black band-wearing Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians continued their sit-in protest for the second day today. They are demanding the reopening of the A9 road and the lifting of the economic embargo that they say has been imposed on the Jaffna population after fighting between Sri Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) broke out on August 11. Meanwhile, Chandrakantha Chandraneru took oaths yesterday as the Tamil National Alliance Batticaloa district MP. He was appointed to the position left open after the murder of parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham. The new MP was seen participating in the sit-in protest with his colleagues.

40 Thamil MPs in India must interact with 22 TNA MP—says Dravida Peravai General Secretary N. Nandhivarman

Dravida Peravai General Secretary N. Nandhivarman said it is high time that 40 Thamil Members of Parliament in India meet their counterparts 22 Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members of Sri Lanka and interact with them to find out a lasting solution to ethnic conflict in the island country. He said the voters must exert pressure on their respective Members of Parliament to raise humanitarian issues of the suffering people of Tamil Eelam. He was presiding a reception programme at Pondicherry, now legally renamed as Pudhucherry, accorded to TELO Muthalvar Mr. M. K. Shivajilingam, M.P of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) from Srilanka. The meeting was presided by Dravida Peravai General Secretary N. Nandhivarman. Industrialist Mr. Ira Sembian rendered the welcome speech in poetic form.

State President of Rastriya Janata Dal headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav at national level Thiru.T.Sanjivi, Mr.Thanga. Kalaimaran of Bahujan Samaj Party headed by Mayavathi, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Sundaramurthy of Nationalist Congress Party headed by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and A.Vanthiyathevan Publications Secretary of Marumalarchi DMK were in the dias. The Organizing Secretary of Dravida Peravai Syed Khader and Treasurer of Dravida Peravai Narambai Mahalingam also attended the programme.On arrival NCP leader Sundaramurthy presented a shawl and welcomed TELO Muthalvar Shivajilingam. Mr. Agni Subramanian, Editor of Manitham, accompanied the visiting Parliamentarian.

In his Presidential speech N. Nandhivarman said, all Thamils all over the world feel terribly upset and disappointed because still the Tamil National Alliance Members of Parliament have not been given appointment to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalaignar M. Karunanithi.He said Thamils are known for their hospitality. We have welcomed all races and have ensured their happy living in our soil. It is most unfortunate that the woes of the Thamil people of Eelam could not be presented to Indian leaders. Mr. Nandhivarman said in Ramayana when Rama wanted to find out an auspicious time to launch attack on Ravana, Rama only approached Ravana, who true to his professional knowledge of astrology fixed a date despite knowing it would be detrimental to his interest. Such is the nature of the nobility of Thamil race.

Criticising Indian leadership for their reluctance to even listen to elected Tamil representatives of Sri Lanka, he said India must try to persuade Sri Lankan government to hold a plebiscite under the aegis of United Nations and the people of North and East must be given three options to choose which are total independent Eelam or State Autonomy under Sri Lankan Government or Thamil provinces joining Indian Union and becoming 29th State of Indian Union. “Out of these three options if people choose Eelam that verdict must be accepted by all parties to conflict. In case if independent State is intolerable idea and Thamils have to remain subjects in a Unitary Government, then I think instead of being under Sri Lankan Government, it is better for them to join Indian Union and become a province under Indian Constitution. This is only loud thinking and not a binding suggestion”, Nandhivarman said.

According to his proposal, a two-minute silence was observed in the programme in remembrance of Thileepan who gave up his life fasting on Gandhian lines. Mr. Nandhivarman said it is wrong to differentiate Eelam struggle of pre and post-Rajiv Gandhi period. For the sake of argument if revenge had to be taken, India can only punish few and not the entire Thamil race. He recalled that Indira Gandhi was assassinated by a Sikh and as tit for tat in Delhi riots nearly 4000 Sikhs lost lives. That is all. The episode of wreaking vengeance ended. Healing touch was applied and what more befitting example India can show other than making a Sikh Prime Minister to bury the sorrowful events of past.

After Rajiv how many thousands of Tamils were killed in Srilanka? Is not the deaths enough to end the revenge and avenging of Rajiv’s death? All nations have faced similar circumstances but nowhere for single assassination a whole race is cursed to bear the cross or driven to catacombs.Mr. Shivajilingam M.P. narrated how many Sri Lankan governments have failed to honour commitments given to Thamils. Mr. Shivajilingam pointed out politely to India to take note of increasing Pakistani involvement in Sri Lanka including 17 Pakistani pilots to fly warplanes over Eelam and the multi-barrel guns and other arms supplied to Sri Lanka to crush the aspirations of Thamils.

“Even if India does not help us but does not hinder our efforts, we will defeat the combined conspiracies of Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka. If Thamil Eelam attains freedom, forever it will remain as friendly country of India”, he observed. Agni.Subramanian of Manitham magazine painted a gloomy picture of human rights violations and the sufferings of Thamil people in Sri Lanka. Mr. P. Parangusam, Treasurer of Aringnar Anna Foundation gave the vote of thanks.A group discussion followed the meeting in which many questions were posed to Mr. Shivajilingam by the people as well as spies sent by Indian intelligence agencies. It was an open discussion with no hidden agendas and Mr. Shivajilingam reiterated that allowing Eelam to come into being is the only solution to present conflict. The representatives of many parties of North India came together pledging to persuade their national leadership to understand the ground realities in Tamil Eelam. Even a representative from Tamil Nationalist Movement Ira. Azhagiri participated in the meeting.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has gifted a white shawl to Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. The gift was passed on to the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) when Ravi Shankar briefly flew to the rebel-held northern Sri Lankan town of Kilinochchi a week ago, a spokesperson to the guru told IANS Thursday.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who enjoys considerable following around the world including Sri Lanka, usually gives away white shawls to select people 'as a sign of blessing', the aide said over telephone from Bangalore, where the guru's Art of Living Foundation is headquartered. White also signifies peace.The aide did not say if the gift was given directly to Prabhakaran, who is at the centre of a quarter century long Tamil separatist campaign in Sri Lanka, or to any of his representatives.'We cannot say anything more,' the aide said. 'It is a very sensitive issue.'

The aide was responding to a question arising out of a Sri Lankan official briefing Wednesday that indicated that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar might have possibly met the LTTE chief when he went to Kilinochchi in a helicopter arranged by Colombo.On Sep 21, after visiting Kilinochchi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had told IANS that his efforts were aimed at building confidence and that among other things he had discussed an active role for India in the peace process.'Change of opinion can only be brought about by spiritual people,' the guru had said on telephone from the Katunayake airport near Colombo.'We are trying to bring the parties together,' he said, referring to Colombo and LTTE, which have been locked in military clashes in recent months that have killed hundreds. 'The technical details can be left to others. We will put our effort, and keep our fingers crossed.'

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who in April visited Jaffna and interacted with thousands of Tamils, added that both the government and the Tigers desired peace.Swami Sadyojathah, who heads the Art of Living project in Sri Lanka and flew with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Kilinochchi, had said: 'This is the beginning. The guruji suggested that India should play an active role in the peace process and they (LTTE) supported the idea.'Swami Sadyojathah did not specify whom the guruji met. 'There were a lot of discussions about the whole issue. We exchanged ideas,' he added. 'The LTTE told us that they would like to come to peace talks without any conditions.'

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has over the past 25 years established a global presence. 'Guruji is respected by all sides in Sri Lanka,' a spokesperson for Art of Living told IANS.The spiritual leader visited Sri Lanka last year in the wake of the deadly tsunami that killed over 30,000 people in the country, including in areas of the northeast where the LTTE holds sway.The Art of Living Foundation is an international non-profit educational, charitable and humanitarian group offering programmes in more than 140 countries including war torn places such as Iraq and Lebanon. The LTTE is outlawed in India since 1992 for its role in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

If you can't accept our programme of work we will contest the next presidential elections. Mobilize hundreds of thousands of people into the streets. We will not betray you while being close like Dilan Perera.This challenge was put to the president by the leader of the JVP Mr. Somawansa Amarasinghe.While identifying the SLFP few days back as a party indulging in prostitution he said that the SLFP could never win on election without the support of other parties.Mr. Somawansa made these comments at a meeting held opposite Central Market Kandy Without naming the president Mr. Somawansa said the era that bites the hand of goodwill has agued. While stressing the importance of political discipline he said to support a cabinet of 100 ministers massive amount of public money is wasted and you cannot say in public how these ministers go about eat and drink.

Citing devolution of power as a possible solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict, India today asked the island nation to examine its Panchayati Raj system as a possible model.Addressing the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) and Panel of Experts who are tasked with evolving a solution to end ethnic conflict in the island nation, Panchayati Raj Minister Mani hankar Aiyar provided insights "about the methodology, principles, and practical issues regarding this system (Panchayati Raj) of devolution (of power)." Aiyar also offered to provide further assistance and cooperation in this regard, a government statement said."In his address, Minister Aiyar explained the concept of Panchayati Raj and described its implementation in India," the statement added.The Panchyati Raj is a system of local democracy through local councils known as Panchayats that has been established by the Indian Constitution, he said.It provides a mechanism for devolution of power from the central government to people at the local levels, he added.

200 civilians killed in two months of fighting in Sri Lanka, truce monitors say

Sri Lanka At least 200 civilians have died in two months of fighting between government soldiers and separatist Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka, European cease-fire monitors said Thursday.The figure was released as the government announced that Australian forensic experts will visit the country next week to probe last month's killing of 17 aid workers.Since large-scale hostilities broke out in late July, "over 200 civilians have been killed and several thousands are internally displaced, creating a serious humanitarian crisis," the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said in a report sent to the government and Tamil Tiger leaders.The monitors accused both sides of serious violations of the cease-fire, including risking civilian lives, creating a refugee crisis, denying people access to food and blocking the entry of monitors and aid workers into conflict areas for investigations and to help trapped civilians.

The monitors said "the gravity of the violations have led to a dangerous escalation in hostilities.""It is important that the parties realize the seriousness of the current situation and do whatever there is in their power to move forward instead of engaging in military confrontation," the monitors said in a statement.The fighting began with a government offensive in eastern Sri Lanka to open an irrigation reservoir closed by the Tamil Tiger rebels. As the conflict spread to other areas, the government captured some strategic territories held by the rebels in the north and east.At least 1,000 combatants and civilians were killed and some 220,000 people were forced to flee their homes.On Thursday, one Sri Lankan soldier was killed and two were wounded in Tamil rebels' artillery fire in Muhamalai in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the defense ministry said.

Soldiers retaliated causing "heavy damages" to the Tigers, a national security Web site reported without elaborating.The execution-style killing of 17 Sri Lankan aid workers of Action Against Hunger last month and the hacking deaths of 10 Muslim laborers on Sept. 17 in eastern Sri Lanka were among the worst incidents of violence against the civilians.The foreign ministry announced on Thursday that Australian forensic experts will visit Sri Lanka next week to help probe the killing of the aid workers in the northeastern town of Muttur.According to the terms, the experts will "observe and at the request of Sri Lanka authorities, provide technical advice and assistance in the conduct of forensic investigations," the ministry statement said.Nordic truce monitors have accused government troops of being behind the killings, a charge vehemently denied by the government.

Meanwhile, 12 international aid organization representatives met on Wednesday with the rebels' political head, Suppiah Thamilselvan, and discussed ways to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the fighting and to boost security for aid workers, the groups said in a joint statement.A similar meeting had previously been held with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's office, the statement said.Norwegian peace broker Jon Hanssen-Bauer will visit Sri Lanka on Monday, said Erik Ivo Nurnberg spokesman of Norway's embassy in Colombo.He is expected to meet government and rebel leaders and discuss the current status of the peace process, threatened by the fighting.The Tamil rebels began fighting in 1983 for a separate homeland for Tamils, Sri Lanka's largest ethnic minority, citing decades of discrimination by the Sinhalese majority. About 66,000 people died in nearly two decades of violence before the 2002 cease-fire.

AUSTRALIAN forensic experts will return to Sri Lanka next week to probe the August massacre of 17 workers of a French charity, the foreign ministry said.The experts are due to advise Sri Lankan authorities on their investigation into the massacre of the local employees of Paris-based Action Against Hunger (ACF) which Nordic truce monitors blamed on government soldiers, it said.“The governments of Sri Lanka and Australia have finalised the terms of reference in relation to the providing of Australian forensic expertise into the investigations,” the ministry said in a statement.Sri Lanka's police exhumed the bodies of two of the employees less than two weeks ago following a request from the forensic experts.

A court order and permission from next of kin were granted for forensic tests on the bodies by the Australians to determine exact cause of death, a police official has said.He said the other bodies would also be exhumed as part of a probe that has been renewed after the Norweigan-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said in September security forces shot dead the workers at Muttur in eastern Sri Lanka.The killings on August 4 occurred during a period of heavy fighting between Tamil rebels and government forces in the area.The Government denied its forces were responsible for the massacre.The 13 men and four women, aged 23 to 54, worked mostly as engineers on water sanitation and farm projects for the charity.Earlier this month, the French charity said it would drastically scale down its operations in Sri Lanka such as tsunami relief efforts and will focus only on emergencies.

President Mahinda Rajapakasa during a dialogue with a team of British delegates from the Royal College of Defence Studies engaged in a survey of current defence situation and development process in the South Asia Region at the Temple Trees yesterday morning had emphasised that the people in the East have to decide about their future. The President said his government was committed to bring peace with dignity to the country. He was very emphatic in saying that neither the Executive nor the Legislature or the Judiciary could do that. "It is also a myth if anyone believes that the future of the Easterners can be decided by a person like Prabhakaran. No one can deny the democratic rights of the people living in the East".

President Rajapaksa has also pointed out that it was crystal clear and an established fact that the future of the easterners should be decided by the people at a referendum in accordance with the Indo - Sri Lanka Pact. The President while conceding that a referendum was a sine quo non in protecting the democratic rights of the people, said he would commit himself towards this end. The President described the Government's peace efforts and explained measures taken to provide optimum security to the people of North and East and how a committee including foreign representatives were formed to probe into abductions in the recent past. The delegates appreciated the measures taken by the Government.

With regard to the development process, the President said the development measures in Sri Lanka are not confined to urban areas but also include rural areas. He detailed to them the development activities connected with Gama Neguma and Maga Neguma programmes, Express highway projects and other infrastructure development projects. The British delegation is headed by British Government's Defence Advisor Lt.Col.Colin Martin and includes 12 members from the Royal College of Defence Studies. They were accompanied by British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Dominick Chilcott and his staff.

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India could soften its stand towards the Tamil cause in strife-torn Sri Lanka in view of increasing military co-operation between the island nation and Pakistan, TELO Muthalvar and Jaffna MP, M K Sivaji Lingam said Yesterday.Pakistan was rendering a lot of military assistance to the Sri Lankan governrment, he told reporters at a felicitation function organised by the World Tamil Fedration.India's non-interference in the Sri Lankan crisis has prompted the entry of Pakistan into the scene, he said."Pakistan has supplied multi-barrel rockets and heavy military equipment, and at present over 15 fighter planes are bombarding the Tamil Eelam areas," the MP said. SivajiLingam was part of a five-member delegation of Tamil MPs, who met Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahmed, foreign secretary designate, Shiv Shankar Menon and National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, last week, to apprise them of the situation in the island nation.While the Centre's concern about the Sri Lankan crisis is gratifying, Tamil Nadu's support to the affected Tamils is also very encouraging, he said.

TNA MPs protest in parliament

Tamil parliamentarians in Sri Lanka have staged a ‘Satyagraha’ in the parliament against the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the north and the east.The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs said they wanted to bring to the attention of the government the plight of the hundreds of thousands, mainly Tamil, due to the ongoing violence in the region.“A-9 road, for example, is closed. People in the north do not get enough supplies as a result,” Jaffna district MP Nadarajah Raviraj told bbcsinhala.com.

He recalled that parties in the conflict agreed to open A-9 road in signing the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) in 2002.The parliamentarians also urged the authorities to lift the restrictions imposed on certain goods to Jaffna peninsular.“It’s been two months since the A-9 is closed. All the schools in Jaffna are closed for nearly two months,” MP Raviraj said.He said the school children have to stay in queues to buy bread and other essential goods, instead of going to schools.The situation in the east is also not much better than the north, the legislator added.

The LTTE Supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has assured the Sri Lankan government that his organisation will enter into sincere talks to end the current military conflict and find a solution to the ethnic problem, according to the government's Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella."I am personally very satisfied with the commitment made. However, it will have to be discussed with the President (Mahinda Rajapaksa).The government's response will come in due course," he told newsmen in Colombo on Wednesday."Twenty-five years of experience of backtracking by the LTTE makes us cautious about any assurances from it," he said, adding a note caution.One of the main demands of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government has been that Prabhakaran himself, personally, must give a "credible and verifiable" assurance that he will enter into unconditional and sincere talks.

Prabhakaran had said that he would be available, in some way, for consultations during the talks, Rambukwella said.The LTTE chief had explained that because of security considerations, he could not be present at the talks venue itself.The government understood this problem and was open to alternative arrangements for quick and credible consultations with him, Rambukwella said.At the very least, Prabhakaran had agreed to meet the chief Norwegian Peace Envoy, Erik Solheim, he added.The elusive Tiger chieftain has been avoiding Solheim for a long time, as indeed he has avoided all other leaders.The government's spokesman refused to give any details about Prabhakaran's assurance, even if it was oral or in writing.But apparently, the substance has been conveyed through the Norwegian facilitators, who had been in touch with the over-ground political wing of the LTTE.

The government spokesman hinted that the Indian spiritual guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Bangalore-based Art of Living Foundation, had met Prabhakaran on his visit to Kilinochchi on September 21 or 22.But he refused to say if the guru had a role in changing the mind of the Tiger chieftain.He had flown in and out of Kiliniochchi in a Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter indicating that his mission had the green signal from both Colombo and Kilinochchi. Apparently, the Norwegians came to know of this and felt bad that Prabhakaran had met the Godman but was refusing to meet them. The guru had de-briefed the Sri Lankan government about his talks with the "LTTE hierarchy" in Kilinichchi, Rambukwella said.But he refused to go into the substance of the guru's talks with the Tigers. All he would say was that he "preached peace" to the Tiger hierarchy.

Explaining the government's insistence on a "personal and credible" assurance from Prabhakaran himself on the talks, Rambukwella said that the government was put off by the contradictory statements made by the various leaders of the LTTE at various times to suit exigencies of the moment."Just before the meeting of the Co-Chairs in Brussels, the Political Wing Leader SP Tamilselvan said that the LTTE was ready for unconditional talks.The idea, clearly, was to give the impression of being good boys while the government was a set of naughty boys.""The plan was to soften the Co-Chairs stand towards the LTTE.""But after the Brussels communiqué, in which the terrorist group was unfairly equated with the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE's Military Spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthirayan announced conditions for talks," Rambukwella pointed out.

When the two sides were to meet in Oslo for talks on the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), the LTTE opted out at the last minute saying that it would not meet a delegation consisting only of Sri Lankan officials. It said it would talk to ministers only.Colombo also did not know how much of authority the LTTE delegation had, to make decisions and commitments at the table.It acutely felt the absence of the LTTE top brass, especially the Supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Asked why Prabhakaran was now giving assurances, Rambukwella said that the terrorist leader knew that "his days were numbered."There was mounting military pressure from the government, and also increasing international hostility and isolation to contend with."The international community, which till recently viewed the LTTE as either freedom fighters or rebels, is now seeing it as a terrorist group," the government spokesman pointed out.The government was also making a sincere effort to solve the basic political problem, the Tamil problem, he added."After a long time, a Sri Lankan government is trying to get the opposition to join in the task of finding a solution to the ethnic question.The Tamil people should seize this opportunity to come to a settlement," Rambukwella said.

Air force fighter jets yesterday pounded several LTTE camps in Mullaitivu and destroyed a few of them, a day after they destroyed a sea Tiger base in Mannar.A senior air force official said “Air force K-fir jets yesterday morning and evening bombed a training camp and transit bases in Puthukudiruppu.” He also said that a series of explosions were detected by air force surveillance planes from the bombed area for several hours, following the air strike. “Ground troops confirmed that bombing successfully destroyed the transit bases in Puthukudirippu,” the officer said.Meanwhile, media centre for national security said “air force had conducted air strikes on well-identified tiger training and transit bases at Puthukudiruppu causing heavy damages to the training base facilities and killing unknown number of tigers.” “The missions had been carried out on precise information received by electronic and ground means before and whilst the mission was on,” it said.On Tuesday the air force bombed a sea tiger base in Vellankulam.

First driven from their homes by a Tamil Tiger warning, then forced to move back as the military emptied schools-turned-refugee camps, many residents in Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula are hungry and afraid. Cut off from the rest of Sri Lanka by rebel territory, surviving on dry rations shipped in by the state and living under the pall of daily murders and abductions, 9-year-old Calista Emmanuel's mother is too afraid to send her daughter to school. Mindful of a boycott on lessons imposed by the pro-rebel Jaffna students union, instead she makes her sit on the roadside near their coastal home to sell chicken drumsticks, coconuts and mangoes to bring in a few rupees.

"There is no normal life for us," she lamented. "If there was normalcy, there would be no shortage of food, no long queues. How can children go to school when their stomach is empty and they are awake from 3 a.m. because of shelling?" The government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have both pledged to resume peace talks after a five-month impasse, but a new chapter of the island's two-decade civil war continues to flare. The military fires sporadic artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire towards rebel territory. The Tigers fire artillery and mortar bombs. Each side always accuses the other of provoking confrontations, and analysts fear the violence will only deepen. Civilians -- hundreds of whom have died in crossfire in the north and east since the worst outbreak of fighting since a 2002 ceasefire erupted in late July -- are trapped in the middle.

"This is a sad experience. I am still scared to live in this house," said newly-married Donald Nelson Wilfred, 29, standing by his beachside home in Jaffna. He was turfed out of a school where he had sought refuge after the Tigers warned the neighbourhood to clear out ahead of an imminent attack. "Life was easy at the school," he said. "Our problem is we have to obey two masters." Rights officials say 131 civilians have been killed on the peninsula since August, and that another 50 have "disappeared". Some people leave their houses at night to take refuge in churches for fear the rebels' naval arm will attack military outposts, before heading home at first light.

Many residents in almost entirely Tamil Jaffna town are gradually adapting to fuel, food and electricity shortages and a daily curfew, but many complain they are either not receiving food handouts or that rations are insufficient. Fortnightly ration cards allot 4 kg of rice, 3 kg of flour, 1 kg of sugar and 750 grams of lentils per person over the age of 5. Unemployed receive them from free, while others must pay. The town is in lock-down. Heavily armed soldiers man checkpoints at seemingly every corner, armoured trucks roar through town at high speed, and items like baby milk powder are out of stock.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga who has been appointed UNICEF Director General for the South Asian region is to visit India and Pakistan in October on invitations extended by the government of the two countries.This will be Kumaratunga's first official visit since assuming the UNICEF post. A spokesman of her Colombo office told 'Lanka e News' that the purpose of her Pakistani visit is to deliver a lecture on 'Disaster Management'.Kumaratunga is currently in the United States and is due to return to England next week. President Rajapaksa who was also in the US recently to attend the UN General Assembly had made an unsuccessful attempt to meet Kumaratunga while in New York. Sources close to her said that she had told the go between who tried to arrange the meeting that she did not want to meet or go after fellows who attacked her.Kumaratunga is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka after her Indian visit.

Thamilchelvan tells SLMM Head: Colombo's refusal to open A9 route a gross humanitarian violation

LTTE political head S.P. Thamilchelvan on Wednesday at a meeting with head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Major General Lars Johan Sølvberg expressed anger over refusal of Sri Lankan army to open A9 land route. He also expressed concern for not allowing SLMM to enter Muhamalai area and urged the Head of Mission to clarify the stand of Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) in this regard. Mr. Thamilchelvan said the sufferings of 5,00,000 civilians has reached unbearable stage because of closure of land routes to LTTE controlled areas including Jaffna Kandy A9 route and for economic embargo.

"The refusal of Sri Lankan Army to open A9 route is a serious humanitarian violation by the government," Mr. Thamilchelvan said referring to Article 2:10 of the Ceasefire Agreement that states, “the Parties shall open the Kandy-Jaffna road (A9) to non-military traffic of goods and passengers”. He said the government could take journalists to Muhamalai FDL area but it denied to give permission to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission”. Talking to media the LTTE political head referred to the last week report of the SLMM Head in which it was mentioned that “the humanitarian crisis in many areas in the North and in the East is steadily worsening with limited supplies being brought up to Jaffna and into various LTTE areas leaving thousands of people without basic necessities and paralysed economic activity." "Aid agencies are in general prevented from going into LTTE areas. With the monsoon season on its way it is likely that the conditions of people in general will get worse”, the reports added”.

The interim report of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms to be presented by Minister Dinesh Gunewardene recommends a 225 member House to be elected by a mix of elected MPs under the first past the post system and district proportional representation.According to the draft interim report, which is yet to be formally adopted, the country will be divided into 150 single member constituencies to return 150 MPs on the first past the post system.It is further proposed, out of the remaining 75 MPs, 72 will be elected by the respective party secretaries on the basis of a district proportional representation system accounting only the votes polled by the defeating candidates.

The balance three seats are to be reserved for the minor parties who have polled a national vote exceeding 1% but have not qualified for a seat under the first past the post and /or district representation system.The interim report states the proposed model meets the goals of providing stability and governability of the parliament while ensuring fair representation of minority parties and communities.The Morning Leader learns, however the SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem has expressed reservations on the system proposed and sought time to make representations to the committee.The JVP and CWC too it is learnt are opposed to the proposed system.

Informed sources said the UNP too would make representations to the select committee particularly on the aspect of electing the 72 district proportional representation system MPs on the basis of accounting the votes polled by the defeating candidates.The interim report also recommends a return to the ward system for local elections subject to the re-demarcation of electoral boundaries by a fresh delimitation.

Airman nabbed filming Horagolla prior to President’s visit

An airman was arrested at Nittambuwa while secretly video filming the locations around Horagolla, where President Mahinda Rajapakse was due to attend the S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike death anniversary.The airman who serves in the North, was on leave when arrested. Police commenced investigations to ascertain as to why he filmed the location with a digital video camera hidden inside his shirt and also to find out whether he has any LTTE connections.In a separate incident in Nittambuwa a Tamil youth was arrested with the latest model of mini pistol on the eve of President’s visit to Horagolla yesterday. A Sinhala youth who was in the company of the Tamil was also taken into custody.

Q: The All Ceylon Tamil Congress this week wrote to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asking for UN troops to look into the plight of the Tamil people in Jaffna. Allegations were made in that letter that the government was involved in the ethnic cleansing of Tamil civilians. Is this an accurate assessment of what is happening?

The position of the Tamil National Alliance has always been that the government is engaged in a military agenda now. This is an agenda with a genocidal intent. The government troops use civilian shields for their purpose and disallow the civilians from going to the LTTE controlled areas. There are 200,000 displaced Tamils in the government controlled areas because of this.

We believe that the plight of the Tamil civilians is at its worst today and the international community must do everything it can to address that. Where the UN troops are concerned, the position of the TNA is different to that of the ACTC President A. Vinayagamoorthy. We however believe that the international community must understand this situation and remember that it can’t afford to make the mistakes it has made. If the idea of Mr. Vinayagamoorthy is to make awareness we agree if it is more on a UN involvement that is something the TNA is yet to make a decision on.

Q: The letter mentions abductions and killings on a daily basis and the general plight of the Tamil civilians in the affected areas. Is the allegation that the government purposely refrains from taking action to remedy the situation an accurate one?

The schools are all closed in Jaffna because the students are demanding that the A-9 route be opened so that the essential goods can reach them and normal life can resume. It is the best route for aid to reach the civilians. Humanitarian aid can’t be denied to the people like this. The government’s continued refusal to accept this situation is merely another aspect of its military agenda. The Jaffna GA confirmed that there was a severe shortage of goods in the area. The government says shipments have arrived but the shortage is still there. The goods are not reaching the people.

Q:But the President of the Tamil United Liberation Front V. Ananadasangaree, has yesterday urged the government not to open the A-9 route till it has the assurance of the LTTE that there will be no taxation of goods, and that abductions and extortion by the LTTE discontinue.

Anandasangaree is rejected by the Tamil people especially because of such views. The international community is aware of this situation and in the question of the humanitarian issue it is the government that is first and foremost accused in the situaton faced by the civilians. I am surprised Mr. Anandasangaree is not aware of this situation.

Q: The continuing increase in abductions and killings are a serious concern for civil society no doubt, but who really is behind this situation?

The ground situation is such that no one but the military and para military troops are involved in these killings. Even if the government refuses to accept the charges, they must be able to hold comprehensive inquiries and reveal the findings to the people. But the government is not doing anything of the sort. It is clear that the government is no longer concerned with the opinions of the international community.

Q: You keep accusing the government of a military agenda, but the government insists that they had little choice but to engage in limited military engagements against LTTE attacks?

But everyone knows it was the government that started the war this time. We also agree that it was the government that started the war. If the government was serious about peace then they must show it by stopping this engagement in military exercises. Mawil Aru showed that the government clearly had a military agenda. Even on Sampur the government tries to make out that the LTTE attacked the Trinco harbour first, but the truth is that until the government started attacking the LTTE.It was after that the violence spread. Now the government is just running out of excuses. Their actions are making us run out of time.

The LTTE Leader in his Hero’s Day speech last year clearly said he was giving time for the new President Mahinda Rajapaksa to make a positive approach towards peace. The LTTE has given the President ten months now. But the government is obviously not interested in this at all. As such it is running out of time. Now the LTTE will have to counter attack.

Q: But the President has on his arrival from the UN sessions intimated his willingness to share power.

While he verbally says so, he gives orders to aerial bombings on the other. We can’t take the government seriously. The President’s words must be turned to action. The LTTE has put its signature on the Ceasefire agreement. There is no more need for assurances. These are petty arguments to have.

Q: Although the LTTE have signed the CFA they are accused of violating it thousands of times over the government troops. Isn’t the real accusation against the lack of commitment by the LTTE?

We don’t believe so. We believe that everything this government does is with a military agenda despite the verbal assurances. What are the prospects for peace in this situation. The international community has its limitations yes, but they can persuade the Sri Lankan government. If they do that the situation can be better. The LTTE has responded positively to the Co-Chairs statement. If the talks take place it would be a start. But the problem with the talks is that the government is not keen on implementing any of the decisions taken. The international community must ensure that the government also implements the decisions they agree to. It is crucial that there is implementation.

Q: But the international community you speak of which formed the SLMM has maintained that the LTTE has violated the CFA more than the government. Where does that leave you with the need for implementation on the part of the LTTE?

Of course violations must stop. But what matters is the proportion of violence than the number. In that sense the kind of violations by the government is far more serious than that of the LTTE. The CFA makes provision for resettlement of 200,000 Tamil civilians in the North East. The people are still unable to go. The violations by the government is 200,000, everyday these people are unable to go back to their homes. The international community must take a realistic approach. We have satisfactorily briefed them on the ground situation. Now it is up to them to do what they will with the information we have provided them. The international community must decide if it will allow it to go and let the inevitable happen or stop it.

Q: Speaking on the international community, the TNA this week announced it was ‘assured’ of the Indian thinking of the Sri Lankan situation. What is the Indian thinking today?

The Indian government knows what is happening. They are closely watching the situation. We were reassured to know their stand on the issue here. We believe in India as a party with a long history on the key role and responsibility it has with the sitution here.

India is aware of its’ role but I can’t say what it is. We look to India to play a positive role on Sri Lanka. We believe in their role under these special circumstances today. We believe India can take action that is positive. How that will be done is a matter they can decide on. The Tamil people and the LTTE are committed to negotiations, but as long as the government thinks that the ways to solve it militarily are more, the prospects for peace will be minimal. We look towards the international community to clear the strategy and compel the government towards peace.

Q:You don’t believe the All Party Conference initiative was one directed at approaching a political solution?

For the Southern political parties to come together for a consensus, yes. But we are not ready to accept the APC as a separate process to peace alternative to talks. The government must use is to pay lip service and not look at the position of the Tamil grievances. We don’t believe that the APC must come first and the talks later. Talks must take priority. We don’t think the government is serious with the APC as a way to address Tamil grievances, because of the members selected for it. These are well known hardliners. How can the government expect to come to even a draft stage without talking to the LTTE? These measures are counter productive in that sense. All the suggestions are that it is just a front.

The international community is very clear about the suffering of the civilian populations. The issue is what are they going to do about it? Our position is that if the peace process is to move forward, the government can’t look at a military engagement. From 2000 forwards, despite the LTTE capabilities, the government was made to accept that the economy of the country did not point towards a military engagement. But with the tsunami and the defection of Karuna the government believed the LTTE to have suffered more than it did. And with the tsunami aid the attitude has changed towards a military solution. This is why we believe that it is the time for the international community to intervene and act in a way that demonstrates that military means is not the solution.

Muttur leaflets by 'Sinhala extremists'

The main opposition in Sri Lanka says that the country's Muslim community are calling for arms to self-defence.The United National Party (UNP) said the community is ‘very disturbed’ by attempts by “certain extremists” to create chaos in the region.Ampara District UNP lawmaker Mayon Musthapha told BBC Sandeshaya that there is concern over whether those trying to separate East from the north-east province are behind threatening leaflets.

Many residents in Muttur have fled their homes as a leaflet was distributed in the area threatening them to leave or face consequences.Residents told bbcsinhala.com they were afraid of further LTTE attacks though many did not see the leaflet themselves.The LTTE is accused of a series of attacks against the Muslims in the area and evicting nearly 100,000 of Muslims from Jaffna, earlier in the conflict.But the Tamil Tigers have denied any knowledge of the threatening leaflet.The UNP parliamentarian said some groups have filed lawsuits against the merger of the north and east provinces.“When you analyse the situation, it is clear that these extremist parties are behind these threats to Muslims,” he told bbcsinhala.com.Former Deputy Mayor of Colombo, Asad Sali, accused a certain official of police special Task force (STF) of killing 11 Muslims in Potuvil, last week.

He said the Muslims do not blame the STF as a force but the individual officer.11 Muslims were hacked to death on 18 September as they went to repair a sluice gate. The government accused the LTTE but they deny any involvement.Asad Sali accused the STF official of taking revenge as he was prevented burying a Sinhala villager by the Muslim protesters.“The offcial has threatened them that if they did not let him to bury the Sinhala man, I would bury 10 of yours,” Sali told the journalists in Colombo.Accusing the media of hiding the truth from the public, the former deputy Mayor questioned as to how the LTTE came to an area under “100% control” of the STF.

Two Kifir jets of Sri Lankan Air Force bombed Vellankulam village in the LTTE controlled areas of the Mannar district.Sources said the jets dropped bombs at about 8.30 a.m. on the village creating panic among the people of Vellankulam village, located about 33 km off north of Mannar town. The details on casualty or extent of damage of property by the air strike could not be known.

Police are trying to get a court order to arrest Ms. Amarasinghe Kankanamage Kusuma Cooray the sister of Somawansa Amarasinghe the leader of the JVP who was accused of running a brothel at Sinhapura, Battaramulla. Police have stated that numerous parties are exerting pressure on them not to arrest her.From the day this brothel was raided by the police Ms. Cooray has gone into hiding. Her son too is to be arrested. The four women who were arrested at the time of the raid were asked to appear at the courts today also.

Airman killed in Vavuniya

Sri Lankan Military officials said that an airman was killed and another injured in a claymore mine blast near the northern town of Vavuniya.Officials said the bomb went off on a road in Vavuniya while the men were on regular physical training exercises Tuesday morning.Defence officials have blamed the LTTE for the attack.The area was later cordoned off and a search operation conducted by the troops soon after the attack.

A Muslim trader was shot dead by unidentified men at Palaiyootu area, a suburb in Trincomalee at 8.10 p.m. on Monday.The victim, Mohamed Mooza, was a vegetable vendor by profession. The incident of his killing has given birth to panic among local people who sought refuge in the nearby church in fear of being attacked.A tense situation is prevailing in the area, locals said. Additional troops and police were deployed in the area to main law and order. Police launched cordon and search operation in the suburb that comes under Uppuveli Police division.

Sri Lanka's new Nordic peace monitor has been in the job for less than a month, and already he is shocked and disappointed at what he sees.Since taking over as head of the unarmed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission this month after his predecessor was forced out by a rebel ultimatum, Norwegian Major-General Lars Johan Solvberg has had to deal with a military offensive and a civilian massacre."The nature of the violence by all parties in this conflict is shocking. I'm disappointed to see no real sign of will to limit this violence," Solvberg told Reuters on Tuesday in his first interview at the mission's new office in a leafy residential quarter of Colombo.

"I am also disappointed ... that the government side is not doing a wholehearted approach to investigate these brutal incidents, which elsewhere in the world would be a major, major case for the authorities," Solvberg said.Hundreds of civilians, troops and Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed since late July in the worst violence since a 2002 truce gave way to renewed civil war.The monitors have blamed both sides for a series of gross violations of the term of the truce, and pinned the execution-style killings of 17 local staff of aid group Action Contre La Faim in August on the security forces."I think it's unwise by the government, because the international community is losing its patience and the credibility of the government in the face of international opinion is severely hampered by the fact that they are not pursuing these incidents," Solvberg said.

"If you see the violations in general, numbers and gravity put together, my birds eye view on this is that there is no significant difference in the gravity of the violations (by either side)," he added. "That's a totally unacceptable situation if one should commit oneself to the CFA (ceasefire agreement)."The government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) accuse each other of being behind abuses and of starting confrontations.Each side argues that they still honour the truce, and that their foe is trying to force a full-blown return to a war that has killed more than 65,000 people since 1983.Thousands of displaced civilians caught in the middle continue to pay a heavy price -- particularly in the besieged army-held Jaffna peninsula in the island's far north, which is cut off from the rest of the island by rebel lines and where emergency food supplies must be shipped in and are insufficient."The situation in Jaffna is very alarming. It's a ship that is barely floating," Solvberg said. "Most of the mechanisms of the society are about to collapse."

Tamils want India to play a more active role in Sri Lanka, but they want to keep Pakistan at bay, a Sri Lankan Tamil politician said here Tuesday. R. Sampanthan, Member of Parliament from Trincomalee and leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group in Sri Lanka told media persons: 'India should no longer be a spectator.''If Pakistan thinks it can help Sri Lanka militarily against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) it is not going to happen,' said Sampanthan, who held discussions with the Indian establishment in New Delhi last week.The TNA leaders held talks with E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs, M.K. Narayanan, National Security Advisor and foreign secretary-designate Shiv Shankar Menon.

India had maintained a distance from Lankan Tamil groups since the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. 'After a long time we have been able to re-establish contact with New Delhi,' the Lankan Tamil leader told IANS. Asked if the team's inability to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a snub, Sampanthan said, 'No date and time had been fixed for a meeting.'The TNA leader, who was upbeat on the outcome of the India visit, said, 'The visit has brought New Delhi a lot closer to the Tamils of Sri Lanka.'Asked if this would be a setback in the peace talks between Colombo and LTTE, Sampanthan said, 'I do not think so.'

He also denied that he was speaking on behalf of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).'Sri Lanka's constitution is like an albatross,' he said. 'It permits the dismissal of an elected government after a year. It encourages colonisation by Sinhalese in Tamil areas. It discriminates on the basis of language. You cannot find a solution to the Sri Lanka-LTTE problem within the Lankan Constitution,' Sampanthan said.Sampanthan, however, refused to comment on reports that Tamil leaders and groups were invited for talks by the prime minister.

'We are here to urge India to get the Sri Lankan government to behave in a civilised manner, to stop the killing of innocent Tamil civilians by aerial bombings. The present situation is like how it was in 1983, when as many as 250,000 people were displaced,' he said.'I do not think anyone else can play as effective a role as India in restoring peace between the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups,' Sampanthan said, insisting that LTTE was not averse to such a settlement.Asked if Pakistan's interest in Sri Lanka is targeted at India's space research programme and defence facilities in South India, he said: 'It is a possibility'.

Keheliya Rambukwela , the government spokesman, has stated that the government will not agree to the re -opening of the A9 highway, but would consider any alternative proposal if put forward by the LTTE. Rambukella further said that the LTTE insists upon re- opening of A9 high way for the sole purposes of collecting tax from the people. Therefore the government is not prepared to re open the A9 high way. The government does not conduct the services of ships to use the people as shield. This service is conducted to meet the needs of the people. If the ship service is interrupted, it would be that they are not interested in the welfare of the people, he continued. He said the government is prepared to open the sea passage to Jaffna through Punakeri and Sankupitty instead of reopening the A9 high way.

Three anti-LTTE Tamil political leaders yesterday urged India to play an active role in the Sri Lankan peace process to end the decades-long conflict. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi T. Sritharan of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) said, “Tamils hope and pray that India once again involves itself and brings about peace (in Sri Lanka).” “India must help in getting Tamils devolution of power and democratic space in the northeast (of Sri Lanka),” Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree said. “Everyone I have spoken to in Sri Lanka will support an Indian model (of governance),” he added. The Indian government had invited the two leaders, along with the leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), D. Siddharthan, to New Delhi to discuss recent developments in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.

TNA has appointed Chandrakanth, the son of Mamanithar Chandra Neru as Parliamentarian in place of Mamanithar Joseph Pararajasingam. According to M.K.Pathmanathan, Amparai TNA Parliamentarian, ,Chandra Neru is to swear in as member of parliament before the Speaker when the House resumes on September 27th. Josef Pararajasingam who was elected to Parliament from the TNA national list was assassinated last Chrismas day at Batticola church. Chandra Neru has been appointed to fill in the vacancy created by the death of Pararajasingam. With this appointment, Amparai district enjoys the services of two Tamil Parliamentarians.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intensified artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher attacks into Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) territory from Palaly military base and the 52-4 Brigade headquarters in Varani, Thenmaradchi, Tuesday evening around 6:00 p.m. Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarion, S. Kajendran, charged that the SLA for continued attacks in Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas to avoid the issue of re-opening the A9 landroute to Jaffna.Mr. Kajendran charged that the Sri Lankan forces in Jaffna were trying to project the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil FDL area as a "war zone"."Sri Lanka Army is in offensive mindset," he said adding that the there was an "agenda of aggression" behind the "conduct of armed forces" in Jaffna. "The aggression is continuing despite the call from the International Community to cease violence and create condusive atmosphere for the peace process."Meanwhile, informed sources in Kilinochchi said the Tigers have invited the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission on Wednesday for a crucial followup meeting in Kilinochchi on the ground situation.

Thousands of fighting cadres of the LTTE fasted on Monday in memory of the "martyrdom" of Lt Col Thileepan, who fasted unto death in September 1987, on a five-point charter of demands addressed to India, which had sent a Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to implement the India-Sri Lanka Accord in July that year.The mass fasting took place even as the LTTE set off a claymore mine in Poovarasankulam near Vavuniya in North Western Sri Lanka killing a Sri Lankan Airman, and the Sri Lankan Air Force sent a Kfir supersonic bomber to pound a LTTE-held village in Mannar in a retaliatory strike. Young Thileepan, who was popular among the students of Jaffna and was responsible for bringing women into the LTTE, died on September 26 in Nallur in Jaffna, after a 12-day fast over demands, which the LTTE had placed before the then Indian High Commissioner JN Dixit.

The five demands were: Release all political prisoners held under Sri Lanka's anti-terrorism law; halt all new settlement of ethnic Sinhalas in the Tamil Homeland (the North Eastern districts); stop the opening of new Sri Lankan police stations in the North East; disarm Tamil groups armed by the Sri Lankan government; and remove the Sri Lankan army from schools in the North East. "All are reasonable demands put to a Peace Keeping Force. Thileepan died, his demands unheeded," said a release from the LTTE's Peace Secretariat on Monday."Majority of the LTTE poralees (fighters) fast on this day of September 26 each year to remember Lt Col Thileepan," the release said.Significantly, the LTTE Supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, reportedly prefers to observe his birthday, which falls in November, by fasting rather than rejoicing.

‘ISI uses Sri Lanka to spread violence in India’-Interview(Tehelka .com) TELO Muthalvar and Jaffna District MP MK Sivajilingam of the Tamil National Alliance

Pakistan has always been keen on maintaining good relations with Sri Lanka to sideline India in the region. It has followed this policy for a number of years. Sri Lanka has never been loyal to India. Sri Lanka sought India’s help to deal with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna insurgency in 1971. Indira Gandhi helped then Sri Lanka Prime Minister Srimavo Banadaranaike by sending Indian Air Force planes and helicopters to quell the rebellion. However, Sri Lanka took an anti-India stand during the (1971) Indo-Pak war and provided re-fuelling facilities to Pakistani warplanes. Indira Gandhi had expressed her anger against the Sri Lankan government during talks with Tamil leaders in the aftermath of the 1983 genocide. She told them the Lankan government did not have gratitude and was always working against India.

How has the military cooperation between the two countries increased in recent years?

Pakistan has provided large supplies of arms and ammunition to Sri Lanka since 2000. It supplied multi-barrel rockets in 2000, which the Sri Lankan army used to devastating effect in Thenmarachi. The defence cooperation between both countries increased after Bashir Wali Mohammed was appointed as the Pakistani High Commissioner in Sri Lanka in 2004. Mohammed was a former director of the Pakistani Intelligence Bureau.

Pakistan has provided sophisticated military equipment to Sri Lanka in the last two years including bunker-buster bombs that were originally given to Pakistan by the US. Pakistan has helped in modernising the Sri Lanka air force. It had recently supplied two shiploads of weapons. The present Pakistani high commissioner Air Vice Marshal (retired) Shehzad Aslam Chaudhry provides military advice to Sri Lanka, especially on air force-related matters. This (Pakistan’s military support to Sri Lanka) would only encourage Sri Lanka to pursue a military solution (to end the ethnic crisis) and not show interest in talks (with the LTTE).

During his visit to Pakistan earlier this year, President Rajapakse announced a $10 million credit line for Pakistan. I said in Parliament it was like the old saying, “when the mother was begging for alms, the son went to Kasi to feed the poor.” Sri Lanka thinks it can earn the goodwill of Pakistan through such actions. It does not realise it would earn India’s enmity. India has begun to view us (Tamils) with more sympathy now.

There was criticism in India when Pakistan appointed Bashir Wali Mohammed as its high commissioner in Sri Lanka in 2004. Why do you think Pakistan posted him in Colombo?

India has not allowed Pakistan to open a deputy high commission office in Southern India so far. The reason being India apprehends that such an office would promote terrorism in south India. But now Pakistan is using Colombo as a base to build pro-Pakistan Muslim terrorist groups in the eastern provinces of Sri Lanka to create a Kashmir type situation in south India. These efforts began in 2000, but have increased since 2004 (after Mohammed’s appointment as Pakistan high commissioner). Now some Muslim (Tamil) leaders are demanding de-merger of the unified northern and eastern provinces. The ISI is backing all these groups.

Pakistan knows Sri Lanka Tamils are all pro-India. The Tamils in Sri Lanka support India even in an India-Sri Lanka match. Pakistan has clearly analysed this mentality of Tamils and concluded that LTTE would build up good relations only with India in the long run. Pakistan’s objective is to weaken India’s security in the region by promoting terrorism in Sri Lanka.

Air Vice Marshal (retired) Shehzad Aslam Chaudhry had recently replaced Bashir Wali Mohammed as Pakistan’s high commissioner in Sri Lanka. Is there any change in the situation after he took over?

Sometime ago there was some talk that the LTTE had plans to gun down Sri Lanka Air Force pilots when they were off duty at their homes. The Lankan pilots panicked and many went on medical leave and some simply vanished. Now we understand that about 15 Pakistani pilots are now in Sri Lanka, operating the Sri Lanka Air Force planes.

It is also being alleged that PM Amza, the Sri Lankan deputy high commissioner in Chennai is indulging in certain ‘undesirable activities.’ He reportedly met some Muslim clerics in Tamil Nadu to get their support for Muslim Tamils in Sri Lanka with an alleged motive of dividing the Tamils. It is definitely possible. It might be the reason why they had chosen a Tamil-speaking Muslim for the job.

The ISI has penetrated the Eastern Province comprising the three districts of Amparai, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee. Muslims are dominant in Amparai, and they are present in large numbers in Batticaloa, and Trincomalee. According to the 1981 census, Muslims constituted 33 percent of the population in the three districts. The ISI presence in this region would prove detrimental to India’s security interests in the region.

What do you expect India to do in this situation? Are you indirectly asking India to help the LTTE?

India should recognise the liberation struggle of Tamils. There would be security in the region only if we (Tamils) achieve liberation. We consider India as our motherland. Our culture is rooted in India. In the long run, the Eelam would be an asset to India.

Is it true that LTTE and Indian intelligence agencies have re-established contacts?

We don’t have any information on that. But the day is not far when the LTTE would join hands with India. The LTTE has appealed to India to forget the past. It has understood the reality that they can achieve nothing without India’s support.

A situation is emerging that would force India to such a position because of the activities of Mahinda Rajapakse and Pakistan (in the region).

Are you saying that emergence of the Eelam would be in India’s security interests?

Yes. We are a small country. We cannot antagonise a country like India. We would have very good relations with India. We will not allow America or Pakistan to get a foothold in the region.

Sri Lanka's navy and Tamil Tiger rebels fought a fierce sea battle, with both sides giving conflicting casualty figures ranging from three to 70 killed. A navy vessel detected several boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) off the coast of Mullaitivu sparking a battle that both sides said lasted nearly five hours Monday."On completion of the confrontation only 14 craft were seen fleeing... nine sank along with the crew," Sri Lanka's defence ministry said, adding it was "believed more than 70 Sea Tigers were killed and many were injured."The LTTE said only three of its fighters were killed and that no boats were lost."On our side, we lost three of our cadres killed," LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan told AFP from the Tiger offices in the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi in the island's north.

He said the Tigers damaged two naval craft. "Both naval craft had to be towed away," Ilanthiriyan said, adding, "we don't know navy casualties."He also denied naval claims that the Tigers were operating a flotilla transporting supplies and cadres to the eastern district of Batticaloa and said they were on a routine patrol."Nobody can take away our right to patrol the waters of our motherland," Ilanthiriyan said. "We will not stop that. Nobody can stop us either."The defence ministry said that one of its own craft was "slightly damaged" and "five sailors suffered injuries and one was transferred to Colombo for further treatment".Sri Lanka has suffered an upsurge in bloodshed since December that has left more than 1,500 people dead by official count and a 2002 ceasefire in shreds.The island's three-decade separatist ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives.

The LTTE also denied forcing minority Muslims to quit the coastal town of Muttur, where 17 local aid workers from a French charity were massacred last month and which is situated in the same area as where the sea battle erupted.Local residents said dozens of families had fled to public buildings fearing attacks after they received handbills warning of an impending rebel attack on the area.But the LTTE blamed government forces for what it described as a misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the guerrillas and diverting attention from a recent massacre of 10 Muslim men elsewhere in Sri Lanka.Truce monitors accused government forces of killing 17 aid workers in Muttur earlier last month. The government vehemently denied the charge and has called for an investigation backed by Australian forensic experts.Ten Muslim men were hacked to death in the district of Ampara last week and local residents blamed speicalist police commandos, but the authorities denied responsibility and blamed Tiger guerrillas.

Mr. Rauf Hakeem the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is to inform the co-chairs on the killing of 10 Muslims at Pottuvil.Mr. Hakeem has revealed to 'Lanka E News' that he has not received any intimation from the President for the letter sent and nothing has surfaced from the investigation conducted by the CID.He further said that he will be making a special announcement at the Parliament.When questioned by Lanka E News about the withdrawal of STF personnel provided for his security, Mr. Hakeem said that Senior Presidential advisor Mr. Basil Rajapakse discussed this matter with him and promised that the President would sort out this matter after returning to Sri Lanka, attending the UN Sessions.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have denied forcing minority Muslims to quit a coastal town where 17 aid workers of a French charity were massacred last month. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Monday said they were not responsible for distributing leaflets among thousands of Muslims in the town of Muttur demanding they leave the area.Local residents said dozens of families had fled to public buildings fearing attacks after they received handbills warning of an impending rebel attack on the area.Thousands of residents of Muttur who fled the fighting last month began returning two weeks ago after security forces gained control of the nearby rebel-held town of Sampur, a key guerrilla artillery base.

The LTTE in a statement denied responsibility and in turn blamed government forces for a misinformation campaign to discredit the guerrillas and divert attention from a recent massacre of 10 Muslim men elsewhere in Sri Lanka."The military wins on three scores, diverting the attention, turning the anger of the Muslim people onto the LTTE, and pretending to protect the Muslim people," LTTE official S. Puleedevan said in a statement.Truce monitors accused government forces of killing 17 aid workers in Muttur earlier last month. The government vehemently denied the charge and has called for an investigation backed by Australian forensic experts.

Ten Muslim men were hacked to death in the district of Ampara last week and local residents blamed police Special Task Force commandos, but the authorities denied responsibility and blamed Tiger guerrillas.The Tigers have been accused of attacking Muslims, the second minority after Tamils, and driving them out of their homes in the island's Tamil-dominated north over 15 years ago.Sri Lanka has suffered an upsurge in bloodshed since December that has left more than 1,500 people dead by official count and a 2002 ceasefire in shreds.The island's three-decade separatist ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives.

President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) V. Anandasangaree has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reopen the A-9 (Jaffna-Kandy) Road, but said assurance should be obtained from the LTTE that the Tigers will no longer levy taxes on goods and passengers using the road. In a letter to President Rajapaksa, the TULF leader said, “The passengers should be allowed to go in and come out and without being subjected to extortion and abduction.”
A copy of his letter follows:

“While appreciating and thanking you for the action taken by your Ministers and officials on your orders, during your absence, to meet the urgent requirements of the people, due to their displacement and closure of the A-9 Road, I kindly request you to take immediate action for the matters referred to here. “First of all action should be taken without delay to open the A-9 Road. But before opening this road assurance should be obtained from the LTTE that no more tax will be levied on goods that are taken across and no toll for the vehicles and passengers. The passengers should be allowed to go in and come out and without being subjected to extortion and abduction.

“The A-9 Road remained closed for many years and was re-opened after the CFA [Ceasefire Agreement] was signed. During that period all schools functioned. It is obvious as to who is behind boycott of schools by the students who make it conditional for the opening of the A-9 Road, for them to call off the boycott. The students and the teachers should be warned that all sessions missed should be covered by extra sessions during the weekends too. Please do everything possible to save the children’s education.“There is an acute shortage of food items in the East and essential items both in the North and the East. Please make arrangements for the supply of such items without delay and to the North such items could be airlifted.

“Parents of students attending various institutions like the University, Teachers Colleges and Technical Colleges are worried of the security and food problems of their children. The authorities may be requested to look after their security and food and also to give priority treatment in transporting by ship to enable them to return to their parents. “Arrangements should be made for the Government servants who are on leave and stranded to be paid a percentage of their salary by the local office and could be recovered when they assume office at their respective offices.”

Government is getting bankrupt – JVP Lal Kanthe

Just like the earlier governments Mr. Mahinda Rajapakses’s government too is getting bankrupt said JVP Parliamentarian Lal Kanthe. He said this commenting on the government’s decision to declare several main services as essential services and forbid trade union actions in relation to those services. “What should have been done was to have discussions with trade unions and find solutions for the difficulties of workers. Instead, the government is getting ready to suppress trade unions as it is getting bankrupt,” said Mr. Lal Kanthe. He revealed that trade unions are having a dialogue to take action to turn back the action taken by the government and these actions would be taken in the future he added. A discussion regarding this is going on within the Parliamentary group of the JVP too said Mr. Lal Kanthe. The JVP supported to implement emergency regulations on condition that they would not be used to suppress workers. If the government acts contrary to this it is a matter to be concerned with said Mr. Lal Kanthe.

The recent rain in the southern Jaffna peninsula is the time for the farmers to sow the paddy fields. Displacement, inability to bring seeds and fertilizers into Jaffna, has resulted in thousands of acres of paddy land remaining uncultivated. Even those farmers who are in their residence are unable to sow the fields due to lack of seeds. A sack of rice which prior to the current blockade of Jaffna cost Rs 600 is selling for Rs 3000 at present making it out of reach for most daily wage earners in Jaffna. Hungry people are resorting to stealing food. Petty crimes will rise as people start to steal to ward off hunger. Isn’t this exactly what the Government of Sri Lanka wishes on the people of Jaffna?

Unidentified assailant shot dead a police constable with a pistol Monday around 11:15 a.m near a liquor bar at Paddiruppu junction, Kaluwanchikudy, 24 km southeast of Batticaloa town. Police Constable M. W. Ariyadasa, 45, succumbed to his serious wounds on the way while being transferred to Amparai hospital from Kaluwanchikudy hospital, Police said.

The Jaffna Students Consortium (JSC) Monday continued boycott of schools ignoring the requests from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) command from Palaly to return to schools, student sources in Jaffna said. JSC launched a peninsula wide boycott of schools starting from September 9 stating that "Students will continue their struggle and abstain from schools until the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) respects students' education and facilitates creating an environment conducive for education." Schools in Jaffna remained open without students, sources in Jaffna said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting that the Government "work out a perpetual lease of Katchathivu" island with Sri Lanka for the benefit of Indian fishermen. In the letter, he said the lease would facilitate "fishing, drying of nets and pilgrimage within the purview of the existing agreement." "I would be grateful if you could kindly look into this and use your good offices to resolve this long pending issue and restore the traditional rights of Indian fishermen in the waters in and around Katchathivu and impress upon the Sri Lankan Government to instruct their Navy to desist from harming innocent Indians, more specifically fishermen from Tamil Nadu who solely depend on fishing... for their livelihood," he said in the letter.

Referring to a number of incidents of attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy on fishermen from Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said that in the latest occurrence on September 8, four fishermen were intercepted near Velankanni within Indian waters, their catch was snatched, they were manhandled, pushed into the sea and ordered to swim to safety. The CM said two of the fishermen were feared drowned. The incident caused "deep anguish and distress" among fishermen and led to spontaneous protests. "Sri Lankan Navy is now preventing fishermen of Tamil Nadu from fishing in India's territorial waters”, he alleged.

SRI LANKA: "So Far, No Further," India Signals LTTE - By Col. R Hariharan (retd.)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh politely declined to meet a five-member delegation of Sri Lanka Tamil MPs on September 21, 2006. The MPs belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the pro-LTTE face in Sri Lanka parliament, perhaps had high hopes of meeting the Prime Minister, thanks to the loud sponsorship of their case by Marumalarchi Dravida Makkal Katchi (MDMK) leader Vaiko. And perhaps that was the rub because Vaiko had been equally vocal as a political advocate of LTTE in Tamil Nadu.

The Prime Minister had a busy fortnight; he made whirlwind visits to Havana for the Non Aligned Summit and another equally eventful trip to the UN General Assembly Summit meeting. On his return he has a few major issues confronting him ? the Indo-US nuclear deal coming through, as well as the politically more explosive outcome of his meeting with General Musharraf in Havana. But the rebuff to the Sri Lanka delegation was not because he was busy. Nor was it because he considered the problem of Sri Lanka Tamils less important. The meeting with the Prime Minister was simply not on the cards. This is clear from the comment of a South Block official quoted in the Hindu, "They met everyone who had to be met."

The Tamil MPs, who wanted to discuss the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka, had been cooling their heels in Delhi for three days to meet the Prime Minister. Their earlier effort in Chennai to meet M Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had also met with the same rebuff. They are going home after meeting the National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and the Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed only. Of course, both at Chennai and Delhi they met some of the leaders of political parties including the Communist Party of India. That was it.

The TNA MPs know India very well. R Sampanthan, the head of the delegation, is a veteran politician who has living links in India. Another member Suresh Premachandran of Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) fought LTTE shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Peace Keeping Force. They are all seasoned politicians who have long years of experience in dealing with Indian politicians, notably of the Tamil Nadu kind. They have good understanding of the internal machinations that impel Tamil Nadu politics. They know the working of Indian bureaucracy at the state and central levels. In the heart of hearts they probably knew the prospects of meeting with the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister were dim, if not dismal. LTTE also probably had inkling of the abortive mission though it was taken in by the widely publicised efforts of Vaiko to arrange the meeting with the Prime Minister.

Of course, it is because LTTE decided that they should make the trip. Despite their impeccable political pedigree, the MPs have become the proxy voices of LTTE in Sri Lanka parliament. Their contribution to prod the stalled peace process, if any, is not visible because they are partisans of LTTE. So they have hardly any choice. LTTE has always used them to gain propaganda mileage with the rallying call of support to the Tamils suffering under the Sinhala government. So their first agenda in India would be to test the waters of Tamil Nadu to assess the support for LTTE and of course, highlight the atrocities perpetrated against Tamils in Sri Lanka.

But the more important purpose was to explore ways to fulfil LTTE's desire to mend fences with India. Ever since the international ambience started heating up for LTTE, it has started remembering the value of having India as a friend rather than a foe. Tamil militants in general and LTTE in particular were welcomed with open arms in Tamil Nadu when they fled their country in 1983. They were fed, feted, financed and trained to go back to settle scores. And India tried to rewrite the history of Tamil struggle when it intervened in a big way with troops to ensure the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was enforced in Sri Lanka in 1987. When the mission failed, thanks to the newfound bonhomie between two mortal enemies - Premadasa and Prabhakaran - to get rid of Indian troops from the soil of "Tamil Eelam." The expedition soured India's emotional relationship with Tamil militancy. Then there was the mindless killing of Rajiv Gandhi masterminded by Prabhakaran. Dhanu, the suicide bomber, not only killed Rajiv Gandhi but she also killed the influence of LTTE militants in India.

Unfortunately, LTTE still lives in the memories of its experience of the 90s that have been wished away in India. It is this self-satisfying myth of LTTE that induced the LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham in a TV interview on June 27, 2006 to describe Rajiv killing as "a great tragedy, a monumental, historical tragedy", and ask India to forgive and forget to "build a new relationship" with LTTE. On the same day, S.P. Tamilchelvan, political affairs head of the LTTE, in an interview to Singapore daily Tamil Murasu said, "If one looks at it from one's individual interest, there will be no close relations between the LTTE and the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu. But looking at it from the point of view of the people's welfare, we will surely extend a hand of friendship." This was clearly a muted appeal to the Tamil Nadu Government. However, that fishing expedition of LTTE in Indian waters failed. [For an analysis of the interview see SAAG Note no. 320 dated June 30, 2006 titled "LTTE regrets without remorse ? Up date 96" at http://www.saag.org/%5Cnotes4%5Cnote320.html]

Of course, the MPs while in Delhi tried to get their message through that India should be involved in the peace process for the sake of Tamils. R Sampanthan while speaking at the Indian Council of World Affairs regretted the killing of Rajiv Gandhi. He said: "The assassination of Gandhi was tragic and thoroughly unacceptable. A vast majority of the Tamil people is deeply disappointed. It should have never happened. It is a tragic aberration we sincerely and seriously regret." But significantly LTTE's responsibility for the assassination was wished away. This inability of TNA to even to verbally condemn LTTE for this "monumental tragedy" perhaps explains the limitations of their influence in dealing with LTTE.

The failure of the TNA MPs to fulfil their mission should send a loud and clear message from the Government of India to LTTE - so far and no further. The MPs can come to Delhi put across their messages, meet the officials and address meetings. Beyond that, their association with LTTE, which is a banned organisation in India, makes them "No go." For the MPs who had the free run of corridors of power in Delhi in their earlier incarnation two decades ago as respected leaders of their own political parties and not vassals of LTTE, this trip was probably a moment of truth.

The return of the delegation with no tangible results should warm the heart of the Government of Sri Lanka because it has shown the extent of their influence in Delhi. Despite the differences between the two governments recently over the supply of arms for domestic reasons in India, Manmohan Singh by refusing to see the MPs has made it clear that there is no change in India's stand on Sri Lanka. The relations between the two countries remain as warm as ever. Internally, the whole episode also shows the limited influence Vaiko wields in the Centre, let alone in moulding the foreign policy decisions on Sri Lanka. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will be happy about this. After all his advice rather than that of Vaiko has been heeded by the Prime Minister, and in the Brownie point score of Tamil Nadu politics everything counts.

The five-man delegation of the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is satisfied with its just concluded visit to New Delhi, even though it failed to get an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.While TNA members and Tamil dailies in Colombo felt cheated by the Indian Establishment and Tamil Nadu politicians, the members of the team themselves felt that their mission had ushered in a new era in India-Sri Lankan Tamil relations after a 15-year painful stand-off."India has opened the door to us," a senior MP, Mavai Senathirajah told Hindustan Times over phone from Trichy on Sunday.

Happy to have got an opportunity to meet the National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan, Foreign Secretary designate Shiv Shankar Menon, and the Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed, and to address a seminar at the prestigious Indian Council for World Affairs, the MPs declared that they had broken through to the top level in India."We opened our hearts to them and they opened their hearts to us," Senathirajah said."We had a very cordial meeting with the National Security advisor. In addition, he spoke to us on the phone prior to our departure," Senathirajah said.About their meeting with the Foreign Secretary designate, Shiv Shankar Menon, he said that Menon's previous experience in Sri Lanka as High Commissioner helped them communicate with him very well.

About the Prime Minister's inability to see them, the MPs were told that Singh wanted to give some time to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to sort out matters, as only a few days earlier he had spoken to him about India 's concerns vis-a-vis Sri Lanka, on the sidelines of the NAM summit in Havana.According to Senathirajah, Dr Singh had urged the Sri Lankan President to end the hostilities and killings in the North and East of the island, attend to the humanitarian issues triggered by the fighting, and go for talks with the LTTE.The Indian PM offered the Sri Lankan President, assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of the displaced people in the war-ravaged Tamil-speaking North East.When told about this, the TNA MPs requested that the aid be sent directly to the North and East and not through the Sri Lankan government, which, they alleged, could block it.

The Indian government, however, would not oblige them in this matter as New Delhi deals with Sri Lanka only through the government in Colombo.According to Senathirajah, the Indian Prime Minister told Rajapaksa that India would view with concern any move to de-merge the North and East and form two distinct provinces, as any such move would go against the India- Sri Lanka Accord and exacerbate ethnic tension in the North and East.The Indian top brass told the MPs that they could convey to New Delhi any issue that warranted India 's attention.

The Government yesterday laid a precondition before the Norwegian government, asking that it confines its role to that of a facilitator, in response to the call from the LTTE to resume peace talks.Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told The Nation that the government had informed Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar that his government should ensure that it did not exceed the functions of a facilitator. Furthermore the government has laid three preconditions for the LTTE and is awaiting a response from Kilinochchi via the Norwegian facilitators.Taking into consideration the LTTE’s style of operation during the last 23 years, the government has conveyed that this time it is waiting for a response from Tiger leader Velupillai Parabhakaran himself before committing to talks.

The LTTE Leader should personally give a guarantee to the Co-Chairs, the Norwegians and the Sri Lankan Government that the organisation is genuine in its intentions to move towards negotiations and agree to confine them to the core issues of the national question, Minister Rambukwella said. Since ceasefire periods have been used by the LTTE in the past to strengthen itself militarily, the government has also insisted on an assurance from the LTTE that it will not engage in weapons running in the future.Minister Rambukwella added that Ambassador Brattskar had been informed that the Co-Chairs and the facilitators should ensure that the LTTE’s arms smuggling is halted.“Also the right of the Sri Lankan government to retaliate in the face of acts of terrorism by an individual or the LTTE should be reserved, at any stage of the peace talks,” the Minister said.

In a scathing attack against the facilitators, Minister Rambukwella said that while earlier Sri Lanka was prepared to accept as gospel truth any condition laid down by Norway, that country had taken this as carte blanche to interfere in administration and day to day affairs of the Sri Lankan government, thereby infringing Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. He said that for 58 years after independence, the greatest impediment to finding a solution was disharmony between the two major parties, but that factor too has been resolved with President Mahinda Rajapaksa extending his hand to the UNP to form a government of national consensus.While the LTTE came into being representing the genuine grievances of the Tamil people, it had resorted to terrorism later, making itself the greatest impediment to achieving a lasting peace, Minister Rambuwella added.

“Paramilitary groups go about in Jaffna, in white vans. They abduct civilians and kill them. This is a daily occurrence,” All Ceylon Tamil Congress has told UN Secretary General Koffi Annan.A letter dated September 22, signed by the party’s President, former MP Appathuray Vinayagamoorthy says:

“Due to the deteriorating human rights situation, as far as the Tamils of Sri Lanka are concerned, and because of the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, it has become urgent and necessary for me, as a Human Rights Activist, an Ex. Parliamentarian and President of the oldest Tamil Political Party viz. All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), to request Your Excellency to immediately consider the possibility of sending a United Nations Peace Keeping Force to Sri Lanka, to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils and ensure peace.”“Due to the ongoing undeclared war between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka, the entire Jaffna peninsula is cut off from the rest of the country and people in Jaffna face starvation and death.”“What is taking place in Jaffna is genocide of Tamils. Abductions, killings, robberies and illegal arrests by the paramilitary groups which support the Government and State agents such as the Army and the Navy, take place almost daily. Tamils in Sri Lanka, are living in mortal fear and they do not know whom to complain to.”

“It does not seem that the Government can and will control the criminal activities of the armed forces and paramilitary groups. The paramilitary groups go about in Jaffna in white vans and arrest civilians, take them away and kill them. This is a daily occurrence,”“In this connection, I wrote a letter to the Hon. Elfyn Llwyd AS/MP, as regards the present plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils and he forwarded same to the Hon. Minister of State and a copy of the reply sent by him to the Hon. Elfyr Llwyd. AS/MP is attached hereto,” he stated in his reply:“I share Mr. Vinayagamoorthy’s concern at the worsening security and human rights situation in Sri Lanka. All Human Rights abuses by any party to the conflict, are deplorable and in all cases there must be credible investigations and the perpetrators brought to justice. We are deeply concerned at the plight of civilians in government-controlled areas, who are regularly subjected to brutal attacks by paramilitary groups and according to disturbing reports, also by government security forces acting with apparent impunity. Clearly, such attacks must cease.”

“Amnesty International has also stated recently that the army is responsible for the white van arrests in Sri Lanka. Paramilitary groups which assist and support the government, daily arrest Tamil businessmen in Colombo, take them to Ampara and Batticaloa and release them only after being paid large ransoms. This is almost a daily occurrence in Colombo.”United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour recently called for International Monitors for Sri Lanka, when 10 Muslims were found hacked to death in the East. She has further said:“There is an urgent need for the International Community to monitor the unfolding human rights situation, as these are not merely ceasefire violations, but grave breaches of International Human Rights and humanitarian law….” In the latest phase of its ethnic conflict, now more than 20 years old, Sri Lanka has witnessed a re-emergence of some of its most frightening ghosts; disappearances, abductions and killings by unidentified gunmen. Nearly 2000 people, majority of them civilians have been killed since the beginning of the year, according to the Nordic Monitoring Team….” “There is no protection for Sri Lankan Tamils and the Government Forces, which should protect the Tamils, are helping the paramilitary groups ...”“In the circumstances, I have no other alternative but to request your Excellency to immediately send a United Nations Peace Keeping Force to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils and maintain and ensure peace.

After accusing at a public meeting that the SLFP is engaged in the worlds oldest profession- the prostitution, by JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, the Koswatta police raided a brothel alleged to have operated by his sister and presented before the Kaduwela court seven suspects including six women and the manager. The women were charged with engaging in prostitution and charges were also filed against the person who ran the brothel at Sinhapura, Battaramulla. The suspects were released on bail by acting Kaduwela magistrate Kaduruwana Gnanasiri and the Koswatta police said that the owner of the house, Somawansa Amarasinghe's sister had fled the scene and are looking for her.

This sister of JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe was married to UNP strongman Sirisena Cooray's brother Nandasena Cooray. There was wide spread speculation during the reign of terror in 88-89 that Somawansa Amarasinghe fled the country with the help of this sister and Sirisena Cooray who was then a leading a Minister.The SLFP leadership and members were seething with anger over the allegation made by Amarasinghe at a recent party propaganda meeting that the SLFP is engaged in prostitution.Responding to this accusation, SLFP General Secretary Maithreepala Sirisena took Amarasinghe to the task yest