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E.U. calls for restraint

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Expresses concern over situation in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: The European Union (E.U.) Presidency has said it is deeply concerned about the increasing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka. "The Presidency urges both sides to cease all hostilities immediately and create an environment for constructive discussion. The Presidency reiterates its full support to Norway's important facilitation work and to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

"The Presidency urges the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to ensure that humanitarian aid deliveries be granted a free access to conflict affected areas and that the security of humanitarian workers will be guaranteed," it said.

Ahead of the arrival of Yasushi Akashi, Japanese Special Envoy, for talks with the Government and the LTTE on the volatile situation, the Army said two of its soldiers were killed on the Forward Defence Lines on Saturday night. It said the Navy blew up a suspicious trawler about 35 nautical miles west of Arippu. It said that instead of heeding to the warning shots, the trawler fired back injuring three fishermen. "It is believed that the trawler was destroyed with about six Tiger terrorists on board carrying explosives and ammunition."

A fierce debate is on in the media here on the merits of the Wednesday's offensive — defended by the Government as a response to the LTTE's provocations — which led to hundreds of deaths on both sides.

Experts panel

TamilNet claimed that a Special Task Force (STF) troopers' offensive on Saturday night on the LTTE-controlled territory south of Batticaloa was repulsed. A Tiger major and a captain were killed in action, it said.

Quoting LTTE sources in Batticaloa, TamilNet said the STF had suffered heavy casualties when Tiger fighters fought back.

An official release said the delegation to the peace talks in Switzerland has been advised by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to examine the report of the subcommittee of the Panel of Experts, on "concerns and aspirations of the Tamil and Muslim people."

The panel was appointed by the President together with the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) to find a "home grown solution" to end the conflict.

The subcommittee has identified the grievances of the minorities and suggested methods of rectification. They include difficulties that Tamil speaking people encounter in their interaction with state authorities because of the lack of implementation of the Tamil language provisions in the Constitution and lack of personal security to eliminate threat to life and property.

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