Colombo should demonstrate CFA obligations - Thamilchelvan in Oslo

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 March 2006, 18:48 GMT]
"It is time for Colombo to prove demonstrated commitment to February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement," said LTTE's Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan, who met Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahre in Oslo Friday. Speaking to TamilNet following his meeting with the Norwegian FM, Political Head of the LTTE expressed dismay over the controversial statements made by Sri Lanka peace delegation seeking to weaken the the Ceasefire Agreement, the sole foundation of continued peace- engagement.



LTTE's Southern Forces Commander Col. Jeyam, the Head of Thamileelam Police B. Nadesan and the Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan participated in the meeting with the Norwegian Foreign Minister.

Conveying LTTE leader Pirapaharan's congratulations to Norway's new Government and expressing appreciation on behalf of the Tamil people to the continued Norwegian engagement in facilitatiting the peace efforts and monitoring the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement between Colombo and Kilinochchi, LTTE's political head said that the main issue of disarming paramilitary cadres in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas would be the key in demonstrating Colombo's commitment.



"We explained our position on the Implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and the recent talks in Genva that secured a renewed commitment to the Agreement from both the parties. We also emphasized the humanitarian situation prevailing in the Tamil homeland. We also brought to focus the fate of war affected, war displaced and the tsunami ravaged people in our homeland," LTTE's political head said adding that the dialogue between the LTTE delegation and the Norwegian Foreign Minister was constructive.

It is only a "honest implementation" of the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement that would pave the way for winning the trust of the Tamil people who are yet to see the benefits of the peace process, Thamilchelvan concluded.

The LTTE delegation comprising LTTE Political Head, Former Southern Forces Commander, Thamileelam Police Chief, Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat, Former Political Head of Batticaloa Ira Marshall (Ilanthirayan) and LTTE Peace Secretatiat Official B. Selvy and Mr. George arrived in Oslo on February 27.



On February 28, the LTTE delegation met with the Norwegian State Secretary for International Development Anne Margareth Fagertun Stenhammer and State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Raymond Johansen.



The delegation led by Thamilchelvan also met the Former Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen, Chairman of Defence Committee, and the Former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland who is the President of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) on March 01, sources in Oslo said.



The LTTE delegation also paid a visit to the Norwegian Nobel Institute and met the Director of the institute Geir Lundestad, the sources added.

LTTE Political Head, who met the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, also met various party officials including Norwegian Labour Party MPs, Christian Democratic Party MPs Laila Dåvøy, Odd Jostein Sæther and the right wing Progressive Party MP Morten Høylund, who is a (FrP) Foreign Affairs Committee member.

The LTTE delegation left Oslo to Geneva Friday evening, sources added.