International   

Cease hostilities, appeals E.U.

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Tigers want immediate reopening of Jaffna highway by Colombo

COLOMBO: A day before the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE are to resume talks, the Presidency of the European Union has counselled the Government and the Tamil Tigers to cease hostilities immediately and hold talks in Switzerland on October 28-29 "with substantial suggestions" to resolve the ongoing conflict.

In a statement released here on Friday, the Presidency urged both sides to "abide by their Geneva commitments."

The statement came amidst reports of continued fighting, though of low-intensity, and serious crisis because of the large number of displaced people.

Observers believe that the E.U. Presidency statement is a reflection of the unchanged ground realities despite the commitment of both sides for the talks and little expectations of any major breakthrough.

"The Presidency believes there is no military solution to the conflict and has called on the parties to find a political solution.

The legitimate interests and aspirations of all communities must be accommodated as part of the political settlement," it said.

Expressing its full support for the Oslo principles of a federal solution, no secession and an accommodation of Muslims, the E.U. called on the parties to abide by them. Further, it welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP) to cooperate on key issues vital for the nation's well being and to work together on a common national agenda.

It expressed deep concern about the allegations of serious human rights abuses by both sides, including killings of NGO workers, and urged both parties to show their commitment to respecting human rights.

It also raised deep concern about the humanitarian situation and urged the parties to protect civilians caught in the conflict.

Separately, the LTTE said that at the Geneva talks it would demand immediate re-opening of the A9 highway that linked Jaffna peninsula to the rest of the country. Earlier, the Government had ruled out immediate re-opening of the highway on security considerations and promised to consider it at the right time.

In another development, the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs, in an appeal to the United Nations High Commissioners for Human Rights and Refugees, have alleged that the Government was using the humanitarian crisis as a tool of war.

The appeal said the refusal of the Government to open the A9 highway and the blocking of aid into Vaharai where thousands of displaced Tamils from Trincomalee are stranded, "amply demonstrated," that the Government was using the humanitarian crisis as a tool of war.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Iran steps up n-programme
Cease hostilities, appeals E.U.
Ishaq Khan dead
Food aid programme
U.S. warned of ballot box chaos as polls near
Extends anti-terror law
Supports wearing veil
Kasuri hopes to strike the right note with Pranab

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu