Demonstrators criticize calls for peace

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An organisation calling itself "Peace Loving Citizens of Sri Lanka" marched in the capital Colombo today and handed over memorandums to the British and the Norwegian High Commissions, demanding that their governments ban the Liberation Tigers. The demonstrators also called on the Sri Lankan government to punish those who called for negotiations with the LTTE.

An estimated thousand demonstrators, led by 600 Buddhist monks marched from Victoria Park to the British and Norwegian missions in Colombo, calling on the respective governments to ban the Liberation Tigers who, the protesters said, were "brutally killing Sri Lankan soldiers".

The demonstrators condemned the Norwegian government which is reported to have expressed willingness to consider LTTE leader Pirabakaran's application for asylum were he to make one. The demonstrators said that the Norwegian offer should be withdrawn.

The demonstrators also demanded the British government take action against the LTTE. The LTTE's International Secretariat is based in London.

The "Peace Loving Citizens of Sri Lanka" also distributed hand bills as they marched. The bills called on the Sri Lankan government to take action against those who called for negotiations with the LTTE.

"Colombo based politicians, political observers and newspapers who are calling on the Government to negotiate with the Tigers should be listed and they should imprisoned" said the hand bill issued by the organisation.

The organisation also condemned Tamil politicians for speaking about human rights violations by the Sri Lankan security forces.

"Tamil politicians in Colombo are talking about the atrocities committed on the Tamils. They do not talk about the Sinhala people who are being brutalised by the Tigers", said the handbill.

"Whenever a bomb explodes in Colombo, Tamil politicians in Colombo who are protected by the Sri Lankan forces become prominent figures. Actions should be taken against them too." said the hand bill.