Thamilchelvan meets Nobel Peace laureate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 April 2003, 16:29 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers believe that people’s support for the peace process could be obtained if the cease fire agreement is implemented fully, the head of the LTTE’s political division Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan told Nobel Peace Price winner Mr. John Hume, during discussions between the two in Kilinochchi Thursday, sources said. Mr. Hume was accompanied by Britain’s High Commissioner in Colombo and two senior officials from the British foreign office.



Speaking to presspersons after the meeting with Mr. Hume, Mr. Thamilchelvan said that he had told British team that it was necessary to get the people to co-operate with the peace process by winning their trust and confidence. He had told them that the peace process is facing difficulties because displaced persons are still unable to resettle in their homes due to the Sri Lanka army’s high security zones and because normalcy is yet to return to the lives of people affected by the war.

He had further told the British delegation that it is necessary to implement the ceasefire and other agreements in order to take the peace process to the next stage; and that refugees who resettled in their villages and towns after the ceasefire are yet suffering without basic amenities. Mr. Thamilchelvan had also pointed out to them that the assistance of the international community is needed to rebuild the war destroyed infrastructure of the northeast.

The meeting began at the LTTE’s political division headquarters in Kilinochchi Thursday morning around 10.15 The Deputy Head of the LTTE’s political division Mr. S. Thangan and Mr. George also took part in the discussions.

Mr Hume was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his efforts to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland.