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Colombo has a right to neutralise LTTE air power: Boucher

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher on Thursday voiced concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka even as President Mahinda Rajapaksa talked about the need for vigilance in the interests of "national security".

Mr. Rajapaksa gave an assessment of the situation, particularly in the context of the air capabilities of the Tamil Tigers, to Mr. Boucher. They also discussed the efforts for the resolution of the ethnic conflict and the military threat posed by the Tigers.

Mr. Boucher also met the Ambassadors of the Sri Lanka Co-Chairs. Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad attended the meeting as a special invitee. Mr. Boucher agreed with Mr. Rajapaksa that the international community should extend all possible cooperation in dealing with the threat posed by the Tigers.

At a news conference, he said it was important for the Government to bring to book those responsible for violation of human rights and rein in the para-military forces suspected to be involved in a spate of abductions, killings and ransom collection.

Asked whether the U.S. Government would consider listing the Karuna faction as a terrorist organisation, Mr. Boucher said any outfit which indulged in outlawed activities risked the tag of a terrorist organisation.

Giving his impressions of a day-long trip to Jaffna, Mr. Boucher said there was a widespread sense of panic among the citizens in the face of continued spree of abductions and killings. He said citizens in the city and the press in the peninsula in particular and the nation in general faced serious threats.

Mr. Rajapaksa said he sought the help of the international community to resolve the crisis and achieve peace. He told the U.S. envoy that the Government was doing its best to ensure that there were no violations.

Mr. Rajapaksa explained the rationale behind the SLFP's proposals on constitutional reforms and said the final proposals would come from the All Party Representative Committee (APRC).

The U.S. envoy declined to comment on Foreign Minister Palitha Kohana's statement that the LTTE air capabilities posed a threat to the nuclear assets of India. Asked why Washington did not take a position on the air raids, Mr. Boucher said, "Now I am telling you. They are wrong and the Government has every reason and right to neutralise Tiger air power".

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