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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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From the Tamil press LTTE shows some flexibility by S.Selvakumar LTTE's announcement that it would consider government's alternate proposals when talks commence on the ISGA proposals and expressing satisfaction after meeting the Jaffna Army Commander were defined as somewhat positive responses from the LTTE. An editorial comment in a Tamil daily that political killings should be stopped before commencing talks was hailed by Tamil leaders. The LTTE peace secretariat in a statement said President Chandrika Kumaratunga has only verbally promised to recommence peace talks but so far has failed to do anything positive and added that the LTTE is not responsible for the delay, the Thinakkural said on Monday. In a separate story the paper said the LTTE has intimated to the government that they are willing to examine the government's alternate proposals after commencing the talks on their ISGA proposals. The Sudaroli in its lead story said that the President has decided to sideline Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in favour of Anura Bandaranaike as presidential candidate at the next presidential elections. The paper in another story said if the decision of a committee appointed by the government is implemented around seven to eight senior military officials will be retired early around the same time. The committee headed by Additional Cabinet Secretary T. B. Abeykeerthi has recommended that no military official should be granted a third extension. On Tuesday the Virakesari said Canada has urged the government to settle the differences within the UPFA and start negotiations with the LTTE jointly with the Opposition parties. This has been said to the government after the Canadian envoy met with Thamilselvan in Kilinochchi. The Sudaroli said the Ponguthamil programme planned for Saturday in Canada will be held on the same day despite protests from groups to the Canadian authorities not to allow same. LTTE sympathiser and Tamil Nadu's MDMK party chief Y. Gopalaswamy has urged action against Indian Navy Commander Admiral Arun Prakash for having stated that the Sri Lankan Navy never attacks Indian fishermen but it is being done by the LTTE. The alternate proposals forwarded by the CWC to make the identity card compulsory at future elections were rejected by the government. The CWC's stand was that legislation on this should be passed only after the Elections Commissioner informs party leaders that all those who are eligible to vote have been issued with identity cards, the Virakesari reported. The paper in an editorial comment has requested all and sundry to bring an end to political killings and pave way to commence peace talks without undue delay. Defence Secretary Cyril Herath has requested the SLMM to provide him with a detailed report on LTTE camps in Trincomalee the Sudaroli reported. Following the Army - LTTE meeting in Vavunativu the former has pledged to support the latter's political activities and both parties agreed to meet again, the Thinakkural said on Thursday. The paper also said Canadian envoy in Colombo made an urgent visit to Palaly base on Wednesday and held talks with high ranking military officials and returned to Colombo immediately after. Non-academic staff at the Peradeniya University locked up the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Treasurer and other officials in their offices in the Senate building and protested, the Sudaroli said. The paper said this happened on Wednesday following the university's decision to pay salaries for the non striking employees. The Korean Ambassador visited Jaffna Technical College on Wednesday following his government's pledge to donate 2.38 million US dollars for the uplift of the institution, the Thinakaran reported. Jathika Hela Urumaya has decided to collect a million signatures and send a letter to the President on five demands including that diplomatic ties with Norway should be severed and to reject the LTTE's ISGA proposals, the Virakesari reported. The LTTE said that its first ever meeting with Jaffna Army Commander Major Sunil Tennakoon was very satisfactory. The meeting took place at the SLMM Jaffna office, the Thinakaran said on Friday. LTTE's Trincomalee political wing leader Elilan addressing a meeting at a Hindu kovil festival has said the LTTE camps around Trincomalee were established before signing the MoU with the government and as such there is no necessity to dismantle them and added that the military occupying kovils and schools should vacate, the Virakesari said. Eleven gold chains have been snatched from devotees at a crowded chariot festival of the Mutwal Maha Vishnu Kovil on Thursday, the Thinakkural said. |
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