2nd Lead (Adds audio clip, adds details)

Tigers seek truce monitors' role to facilitate poll

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 February 2004, 11:43 GMT]
''The question of people from areas held by us voting in the elections involves arrangements by the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan armed forces. This is a ceasefire related matter. Therefore we feel that the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has a role in working out modalities to help people in our areas vote at the general elections'' said Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan, head of the LTTE's political division speaking to journalists Saturday after meeting with the head of Sri Lanka truce monitoring mission in Kilinochchi.

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Maj. Gen. Furuhovde (English), Thamilchelvan (Tamil) talk to journalists

Mr. Thamilchelvan said that he discussed practical issues regarding arrangements to let people in areas under LTTE control to vote in the elections on 2 April. The LTTE has made some suggestions to the truce monitors regarding the arrangments, he added.

''We have explained these matters to Gen. Furuhovde. He has assured that he will discuss the matter with relavant parties and apprise us of their response early'', Mr. Thamilchelvan said.

Gen. (retd) Fruhovde talking to the journalists said, "We had the first meeting, Mr. Thamilchelvan and myself, after I arrived in Sri Lanka and we have just touched bases and have exchanged our general views on the situation and will concentrate on the ceasefire agreement and the co-operation between the LTTE and the SLMM. It was a very good meeting in a friendly atmosphere."

For a question on whether SLMM will play role in any election arrangements, Mr. Furuhovde said "No, we will not."