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Disappointed, says LTTE

V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Wednesday said it was "totally disappointed" with the Sri Lankan Government's "implementation" of the agreements reached at the February talks in Geneva.

The LTTE conveyed its position to new Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer, who is on his first visit to Sri Lanka.

The LTTE's political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan said the main complaint was the "non-fulfilment" of the "pledges" on "the activities of the paramilitary groups" in Government-controlled north and east.

Unmet demand

Behind the complaint lies its unmet demand that supporters of its former Special Commander, V. Muralitharan (`Col.' Karuna), be disarmed by the Government. The Tigers had earlier described his revolt as LTTE's "internal problem."

Mr. Hanssen-Bauer is scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday.

The next round of talks is scheduled to be held in Geneva between April 19 and 21.

However, the LTTE's charges and its earlier position that its participation would be linked to the "implementation of the agreements reached in Geneva" have raised doubts over its timing.

The LTTE charges the Government with "escalation" of "paramilitary violence." Earlier this month, a suspected LTTE arms vessel exploded off the northern Mannar coast, destroying a Fast Attack Craft of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The Sri Lanka Navy and the LTTE had also accused each other of opening fire along the sensitive eastern coast. According to diplomatic sources, the Geneva talks could be delayed.

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