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Co-chairs to tighten screws on Lanka
Monday, 18 June 2007 - 12:56 AM SL Time
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The four Co-chairs meeting in Oslo next week are to consider the next step in the face of Sri Lanka`s refusal to bow to western pressure to halt the war, allow international monitors to oversee human rights obligations and to be cowed by cuts in western aid. Norway, which is calling the meeting, is expected to present a rather pessimistic report to its other three partners following Minister Erik Solheim`s meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Geneva and the president`s uncompromising speech to the ILO conference.
Western diplomatic sources said that since the two-day meeting from June 25 is a routine meeting of this group, it is unlikely that a statement would be issued at the conclusion.
But they said if after the Norwegian report and a comparing of notes it was felt that Sri Lanka needed to be chastised, the Co-chairs would not hesitate to pull all the stops. Although too soon to be certain, there is a feeling gaining ground that the Co-chairs might, at some stage down the line, use a referral process to take the Sri Lanka issue before the UN Security Council for action if the situation deteriorates.
That is if the current assessment is that the peace talks are unlikely to get off the ground soon and there is little evidence of the government taking sterner measures to curb human rights violations reported by international bodies and documented by the Co-chairs, the diplomatic sources said.
According to them, among the matters of immediate concern are:
? President Rajapaksa`s address to the ILO conference. After saying that terrorism has no place in the contemporary world, he reportedly said: `As a government we are not prepared, at any cost, to bow to terrorism.` This is interpreted in western diplomatic and some human rights circles as saying that there will not be any veering away from its present policy of meeting the LTTE head-on.
? Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa`s interview to the BBC and Reuters in which he accused the West of bullying small countries and said that Sri Lanka had SAARC and Asian support and did not need to depend on the West. He also accused British minister Kim Howells of not condemning the LTTE or terrorism during a recent visit to Colombo and the UN of being misled by LTTE misinformation.
`A key issue here is whether India, the biggest of the SAARC members agrees with this interpretation,` a western diplomat familiar with Co-chair thinking said.
? The reports of the international eminent persons panel led by former Indian chief justice P.N. Bhagwati. This report had been critical of the Commission of Inquiry and the role of the Attorney General`s Department at the inquiry and has called for changes.
? The government`s perceived tardiness in dealing with killings, abductions, disappearances and human rights violations in general.
? The absence of a package of proposals to kickstart the peace talks.
Meanwhile the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged Sri Lanka`s donors to `reassess` their aid to Colombo in the light of human rights violations by the government, the LTTE and other armed groups.
The ICG said that the government`s policies, far from ending the conflict, appear to prolong it and it would be the people who would suffer.
`If the ICG is suggesting that the donors stop aid to Sri Lanka, it is only going to affect the people in general even more and not help them,` one diplomat argued pointing out that Japan had said it would not yield to similar international demands.
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Saint
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17 Jun 2007 17:58:17 GMT Report for Abuse
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Yeah they can tighten all their nuts and bolts first
:-))
Edited By - Saint - 17 Jun 2007 17:59:33 GMT |
Thambi
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17 Jun 2007 18:00:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Well , its late but good move , an early action would have saved lot innocent lives in SRILANKA ! |
JRJayawardena
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17 Jun 2007 18:01:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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Machang,
Yeah they can tighten all their nuts and bolts first
Ball-less nut cases they are. I wonder why they cannot lift the ban on the terrorists so that makes back to square one.
JRJ |
TrueFactor
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17 Jun 2007 18:02:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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Are there any screws to tighten by co-chairs? USA, UK already cut-off their so called useless grants and Japan says they will continue with their funding and Who cares about Norway. This is the high time Sri Lanka should learn to self sustain in this economic jargon. There is no future for US. EU in the next generation of economic powers, such as China and India. That is where we should take the Advantage by making Sri Lanka as the hub for Asia i.e. Honkong, Singapore etc. We need to use these growing giants as the basis for the development of the country.
We have to be smart to leave the useless Western Powers and embrace the next giants in Asia. We have nothing to lose by doing that from these so called co-chairs. |
AnuD
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17 Jun 2007 18:02:54 GMT Report for Abuse
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In this Case, UK and Japan are just hanging onto USA for free ride.
Norway has oil money, just like UK and Japan are rich, but need recognition in the world. UK is dying, if not already dead power. For Saddam Hussin, UK was 'just a Rat'.
Then, what did USA and UK did and doing in Afghanistanand IRAQ ?.
And what they are planning to do in Iran ?.
Is it for the benifit for anyone except ............
Now we have to go undergrouNd, everything.
In privious reports, it said,long before this USA stopped giving Aids to Sri Lanka. UK showed how cheap they are when UK stopped 3 $ million grant for debt release for Tsunami aids.
Japan is exploiting our country for many pharmaceutical resources.
Norway wants oil patch (don't give).
Edited By - AnuD - 17 Jun 2007 18:06:10 GMT |
MorafiNes
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17 Jun 2007 18:06:15 GMT Report for Abuse
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| I am not a supporter of shedding innocent 'Blood' whether in the North , South or East of Sri Lanka, BUT, If these arrogant guys of the LTTE are not willing to comprise on certain issues, I presume the Government has no other Choice !. Bowing to Western Pressure is a very difficult thing to Avoid,specially if it involves the biggest Bully on Earth - USA. However, the 'Advisors' & Think Tanks' should devise and handle these Western Governments in a very tactful manner. |
tigeress19
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17 Jun 2007 18:07:36 GMT Report for Abuse
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Article: Co-chairs to tighten screws on Lanka
Monday, 18 June 2007 - 12:56 AM SL Time
as usual, there will be an other statement from them if not they will say, the meetings outcome cannot be published.
now, now lets start to yap till the co-chair meeting end! |
Thambi
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17 Jun 2007 18:08:02 GMT Report for Abuse
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Co-chairs to tighten screws on Lanka
US should do something better than this , its all because of U.S policy toward GoSL made this whole mess , japan still not saying a word to put a stop to funding war . |
TrueFactor
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17 Jun 2007 18:10:18 GMT Report for Abuse
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Anu-D,
True. We need to make use of sri lanka's orientation in the Indian Ocean. If any country is going to occupy SL they will have complete control of the Indian Ocean since below SL nothing but vast ocean.
We should bring up our Fishery Industry, Harbors, Oil, Natural elements (such as ilmanite, phosphats etc), as raw materials to feed the ever growing india and china and use solar and wind powers as sources of energy in SL.
Can you imagine how country would prosper that way? |
Thambi
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17 Jun 2007 18:12:18 GMT Report for Abuse
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MorafiNes
I presume the Government has no other Choice
teh government has a very good option , just come up with acceptable solution to the conflict - that is the verdict - other wise tamils have not choice thant supporting a separation ! so find a solution and keep the country as UNITED or make a SEPARATION ! |
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