"Can trust only when Joint Mechanism comes" - Col. Bhanu
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 April 2005, 08:39 GMT]
“We can talk about having faith in this process only when the Joint Mechanism for Tsunami Reconstruction is implemented. The suffering of Tamils and Muslims who were affected by the Tsunami in Batticaloa/Amparai is immense. Some of them say they should have died in the Tsunami than face the privations to which they are subjected today as refugees. We explained to the Norwegians the urgent need for a joint mechanism to help these people”, said Col. Bhanu, special commander of LTTE’s armed forces in Batticaloa/Amparai, speaking to journalists after meeting Mr. Eric Solheim, special Norwegian peace envoy who visited Batticaloa Tuesday.
“We told the Norwegians that the Sri Lankan armed forces in Batticaloa/Amparai should stop violating the cease fire agreement by backing paramilitaries that are operating against us”, Col. Bahnu said. Mr. Solheim and Norway’s ambassador for Sri Lanka, Mr. Hans Brattskar met Col. Bhanu and Mr. I. Ilanthirayan, head of LTTE’s political division for Batticaloa/Amparai at Solaiyaham Conference Centre, 15 kilometres southwest of Batticaloa town Tuesday around 11 a.m. Speaking briefly to the press at the conclusion of his meeting with the LTTE special commander, Mr. Solheim said: “We briefed them about developments regarding the upcoming Joint Mechanism for Tsunami Reconstruction and sought Mr. Bhanu’s advice on the mechanism. He was very eager to get it in place.” “We very clearly appealed to Mr. Bhanu to do whatever possible to calm down the situation. Every murder is one too many. All attacks, whether by the LTTE or against the LTTE should be stopped”, Mr. Solheim said. He said that Norwegians had taken up with Colombo the issue of paramilitary camps in areas controlled by the Sri Lankan government.
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