Time for donors to provide direct aid to NorthEast- Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 August 2005, 11:20 GMT]
"Time has come for the International Community to provide direct aid to the Tamil homeland without waiting for Colombo," LTTE's Political Head Mr. Thamilchelvan told reporters in Kilinochchi after a meeting with the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgesen and his delegation at LTTE's Peace Secretariat on Friday. "Joint Mechanism to deliver tsunami aid has been scuttled, internally displaced people continue to suffer due to Colombo's denial to let them return to their homes, and the Cease Fire Agreement is severely threatened by Colombo's shadow war using paramilitary groups in the East. The patience of the Tamil people is running out," Mr. Thamilchelvan told the press.

Discussions with the Norwegian delegation focussed on Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), Post-Tsunami Operational Structure (P-TOMS), developing crisis in Jaffna and the travel security for LTTE cadres in Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) controlled areas in the East, the Peace Secretariat website said.

Thamilchelvan told the delegation that while the LTTE is committed to upholding the CFA, Sri Lanka Government's support to paramilitaries in the East is straining the agreement. With the Court derailing the P-TOMS, Thamilchelvan said that a violence free environment is essential to carryout even basic humanitarian assistance in the areas controlled by the GoSL.

Norwegian delegation expressed its concern on the developments in Jaffna following the killing of a Tamil civilian by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers Thursday. Thamilchelvan responded that the incident highlighted the dangers of "military presence in densely populated areas," contravening the CFA. Thamilchelvan also assured the delegation that the LTTE will take all steps to reduce tension in Jaffna district.

Speaking to the press following the meeting, Thamilchelvan said that the time has come for the donors to look into alternative arrangements for delivering the urgently needed humanitarian and rehabilitation. Peoples hopes need to restored by the International Community.

The International Community has seen Sinhala state's propensity to creating impediments to delivering even humanitarian solutions to Tamil people. Power struggles, inter-party and intra-party issues continue to block implementation of even signed agreements. Although this is familiar to Tamil people, the world community witnessed this during the last three and a half year of CFA, Mr. Thamilchelvan said.

Mr. Thamilchelvan further said that the latest suggestions sent by Colombo on LTTE officials transport issue did not specify arrangements in Amparai district and that the LTTE has sought clarification on the issue.

Responding to a question regarding the expired 14 days ultimatum issued by the LTTE with regards to the transport arrangements, Mr. Thamilchelvan told the reporters that one can assume that LTTE has started using its own transport arrangements.