LTTE must let civilians go, says Lankan envoy

( March 29,Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) If the LTTE releases the civilians it is holding in captivity, the government will consider implementing a mechanism to look after the civilians, says Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the UN, H. M. G. S. Palihakkara.

He was addressing the media subsequent to an informal discussion on Sri Lanka at a recent UN Security Council meeting. The meeting was posted on the UN website.

According to Reuters, at an informal meeting on Sri Lanka, which took place at the UN Security Council on Friday, Deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, Rosemary Di Carlos had accused the government of Sri Lanka of not honouring pledges to refrain from shelling the No Fire Zone.

Responding, Mr. Palihakkara said that at present the armed forces were very close to the No Fire Zone and as such there was no necessity to use heavy weapons.

“It’s house-to-house fighting that’s being carried out now. You all are aware that the LTTE is directing fire from within the No Fire Zone drawing retaliatory fire from the army. Other than that the security forces are not deliberately resorting to attacks,” Palihakkara said.

He added that the military had completed the rest of the operation of clearing about 4,000 sq. kms. within two months. If allowed the military to go at the same pace, the remaining area could be taken in three days. However the government had instructed the Army to safeguard the lives of civilians.

Palihakkara also responded to the statement made by UN Under Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs, Sir John Holmes, who called for a ‘humanitarian pause’ in fighting to allow much needed relief in and to allow people to leave.

The Lankan ambassador to the UN said the issue was not ‘pauses’ or whatever they referred to describe it. “If the LTTE is ready to let those civilians go, I will persuade by government to agree to a modality to facilitate this. You can call it a pause or as I said, the government had given earlier a 48-hour no fire period.

“The issue here is that the LTTE is not willing to let these people go. They are trying to hold this human shield. We are working on that. If they are reasonable and if they are the representatives of the Tamil people they claim to be, they should at least let part of them go,” Mr. Palihakkara said.

Commenting on a political solution, Mr. Palihakkara said that the President had already initiated a major Tamil party conference. The idea is to get the democratic Tamil parties, including those who may represent some of the views of the LTTE. “The aftermath of this military activity is to invest security gains in a political process,” he said.

On the arrest of the Editor of the Udayan newspaper, the ambassador said that there were allegations that he was involved in some way in connection with the air raid in Colombo.

“The matter is before the Attorney General. If he can find evidence to support that charge, he will be prosecuted. Otherwise, we he will be released,” Mr. Palihakkara said.

-Sri Lanka Guardian