International   

LTTE plea to Norway

COLOMBO: The pro-LTTE TamilNet reported on Thursday that Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister for International Development and the representative of the Norwegian facilitator, discussed with the LTTE on Wednesday evening the plight of the civilians in Wanni.

It is not known who initiated the contact. It is, perhaps, the first contact between the LTTE and Norway, the official facilitator of peace talks between the government and the Tigers, after the government proscribed the organisation in January.

The website said Mr. Solheim spoke with B. Nadesan, head of the political wing of the LTTE, for 30 minutes. It quoted S. Puleedevan, director of LTTE’s Peace Secretariat, as saying Mr. Solheim conveyed the recent developments in the international arena regarding the Tamil conflict, especially with regard to the latest briefings at the U.N. Security Council.

“Solheim was briefed on the grave humanitarian catastrophe caused by the military aggression of the Sri Lankan armed forces,” said Puleedevan. “While the Norwegian Minister conveyed the concerns of the international community, LTTE’s political head explained in detail how the government was waging a genocidal war on Tamil civilians,” the website quoted Mr. Puleedevan as saying.

TamilNet said Nadesan reiterated the Tiger position on immediate ceasefire and resumption of negotiations to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict. The government rejected a similar offer for ceasefire by the LTTE two days ago made through a letter to the U.N. Secretary-General.

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

Stories in this Section

Extremists threaten the very existence of Pakistan: Petraeus
Obama was star of the summit
LTTE plea to Norway
Indian EVMs for Nepal
Tibetans enjoy the comforts of progress
Protesters highlight woes
Cesc Fabregas set to return

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu