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A news bulletin on Sri Lanka produced by Australian and New Zealand activists working for peace in Sri Lanka. contact: Australia - Willie willie@apex.net.au New Zealand - Malathy malathy@ihug.co.nz

1. The cease fire agreement 2. Transport to north-east 3. Political detainees 4. Other issues of confidence building 5. Poverty in the war zones 6. Other news

1. The cease fire agreement ==========

The Norwegian peace delegation arrived again in Colombo on February 7th armed with a draft agreement for a mutual cease fire between government security forces and the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The draft agreement was brought to Colombo after talks held in London with LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham. The agreement is said to have a wide-range of provisions, including the introduction of a team from the Nordic countries to monitor the truce. However, some of the details of the agreements are still being negotiated. The right of the Sri Lankan Navy to intercept vessels in its water is one issue that is yet to be resolved. The peace team also met Indian Deputy High Commissioner Mohan Kumar and also visited India to brief India of developments.

Also at issue is the signatories to the agreement. Given the wide powers of the President, the LTTE is insisting that President Kumaratunga, who has so far given only lukewarm support to the peace efforts must also sign the accord. Where as President's office has claimed that the United National Front (UNF) government has not briefed her on the proposed agreement.

The peace delegation has since held another round of talks with Anton Balasingham in London. He has since announced that a Memorandum of Understanding to evolve a permanent cease fire will probably be signed on the 24th of this month. The defense minister also announced that the government will unilaterally extend the cease-fire which expires next week even if an agreement for a long-term truce is not reached.

Balasingham also reiterated that they still prefer southern India as the most suitable venue for negotiations for logistic and medical reasons.

2. Transport to north-east ==========

The key highway (A9) linking the northern Jaffna peninsula and the rest of the country was re-opened on February 15th after a lapse of nine years following consensus reached between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers. The re-opened highway run from Vavuniya up to Killinochchi. The Sri Lanka Army opened the A9 highway northwards from Omanthai and the Liberation Tigers opened the southern end of the section of the road which falls within their areas. The A9 highway was the target of an abortive and bloody 18-month Army offensive in the mid nineties.

The SLA and the LTTE opened two new check-points on the A9 route with one hundred meters neutral zone in between. The ICRC is providing escort to civilians who travel through the neutral zone.

According to TamilNet the rebels have also said that they are willing to open the remaining part of the A-9 highway from Killinochchi to Jaffna in the near future, if the Sri Lankan Government responded favorably. The Tamil Tigers have requested the lifting of the barriers at Eluthumadduval, to enable free movement of people between the rebel-held Vanni and the government controlled Jaffna peninsula which the government has not accepted so far.

Earlier the government also announced the immediate lifting of 15-year-old travel restrictions to Tamil Tiger rebel-held areas as well as the embattled Jaffna peninsula. Also the main highway between Trincomalee and Vavuniya was opened on February 4th. This has enabled the transport of agricultural and other sea food produce between the two towns.

3. Political detainees ==========

According to TamilNet, the Attorney General has instructed all State Counsels who appear on behalf of the AG's department in High Courts to withdraw two categories of cases filed under Section 5 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Tamil youths who have been indicted for failing to provide information about LTTE members in their respective areas and those who have been indicted on their own confession purported to have been made due to severe torture after the arrest are to be freed according to AG's instruction.

Tamil human rights movements based in India are demanding the release of Sri Lankan Tamils being held as detainees in India. They are insisting that many of these Tamils have been held over the last 14 years for various offences and it is time for their release given the present peace process in Sri Lanka.

4. Other issues in confidence building ==========

In a rare interview given in the jungles of the Vanni, ThamilChelvam has said that the LTTE will possibly seek Canada's federal system of governance as a guide to a future political solution in the now evolving peace process.

Amnesty International has released a list of 13 children between the ages of 12 and 16 whom AI suspects have been forcibly recruited as soldiers by the Tamil Tigers. However, Sinhala daily Divaina of Feb 19 reported the defence minister saying that a few complaints on forceful conscription of children by the LTTE and about their extortion rackets when inquired have tunred out to be baseless. In the meantime Anton Balasingham has said that the LTTE is now actively recruiting young men and women over the age of 17 years to expand the movement's political and administrative wings.

The Vavuniya Magistrate, Mr.M.Ilancheliyan has directed police to investigate several complaints made by civilians about cadres of a Tamil paramilitary group, working alongside the Army, which has been extorting money from villagers in suburbs of Vavuniya claiming they were representing Liberation Tigers.

Daily Mirror reported that the Defence minister Marapane has said that the shipment of arms for the Tigers was only a rumour. He also said that in spite of the cease fire, the navy holds the powers to warn, fire warning shots and then engage any vessel if they are found to be involved in any illegal activities. In the meantime, the government announced that its defense expenditure would be reduced in the new budget on March 18th.

5. Poverty in the war zones ==========

In spite of the announcement by the Defense Ministry relaxing the restriction on fishing in some areas in the peninsula, Jaffna fishermen continued their picketing in front of the Jaffna Secretariat demanding the complete withdrawal of ban on fishing.

The Asian Development Bank's Country Director Mr.John R.Cooney said that about seventy percent of the people in the war torn northeast province in Sri Lanka are below poverty line and their average monthly income is less than one thousand rupees. "This is very much high compared to other provinces in the island", he said.

A five year development programme of the NECORD funded by ADB, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), German Technical Co-operation (GTZ ) and the Government of Netherlands is to be implemented in the northeast province from this year 2002 to 2007 at a cost of forty million US Dollars.

6. Other news ========

Leader of Ceylon Workers Congress Arumugam Thondaman who earlier resigned from the Cabinet of Ministers over controversy regarding the selection of candidates for the upcoming local government elections withdrew his resignation after consultation with the Prime Minister.

The Lanka Sama Samaja Party, an ally in the People's Alliance (PA) led by the President warned that it would withdraw its support to the PA if it indulged in inciting communal feeling during the forthcoming local government elections.

Four ministers refused to take oaths before President Chandrika Kumaratunge after she refused to accept their colleague S. B. Dissanayake to take oath. The President finally relented and agreed to swear him in.

Sunday Leader exposed details of a taped conversation between two policemen which reveals the murder of Kumar Ponnambalam. Ravaya paper listed names who have killed on political contracts. It claimed that the assassination of Kumar Ponnambalam, Fr. Abba Costa of Negombo diocese and "Satana" editor Rohana Kumara were among their victims.

Former Defence Minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte was arrested in connection with the massacre of 10 Muslims on the day of the 2001 parliamentary election. Earlier on, police raided his residence in search of two of his sons, who are absconding, even as a court in central Sri Lanka issued a fresh warrant for their arrest over the same murders.

Four Sri Lankan army deserters were arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a British woman tourist eight days earlier.

The Commander of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet visited Sri Lanka as part of his tour of the region. The US Embassy said Vice-Admiral James Metzger met local Navy officers and government officials.

The International Monetary Fund said that it may revive a $253 million standby loan programme for Sri Lanka after the new government presents its first budget in March. The loan, needed to boost low foreign reserves last year, was stalled due to political turmoil.

ENDS

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