| News |
||||
|
Govt-LTTE
in six hours of rehab talks The issues were raised when the representatives of a district sub-committee on security related matters met with the government military representatives in the Muhamalai area of the Jaffna peninsula. The meeting went on for six hours. The meeting was earlier scheduled to take place in Thellipallai, a military controlled area, but they were forced to shift the location as the northern Commander of the LTTE, 'colonel', Theepan could not carry his weapon to an army controlled area. The meeting
was held in the Muhamalai area no man's land. The Government team
was led by Defence Secretary Austin Fernando while the LTTE delegation
was led by 'Colonel' Theepan. At a joint
briefing given by Mr. Fernando and Theepan, they said all matters
raised at the meeting would be submitted to the meeting of the Sub
Committee on security matters to be held on December 14 at Omanthai.
Prior to that a series of other district level meetings are due
to be held . The LTTE at
yesterday's meeting had suggested that 25 roads be opened, fishermen
be allowed to use fisheries harbours, and that resettlement work
be started in the peninsula. But the government delegation said
that security aspects would have to be taken up. The army had pointed out that regarding resettlement issues the Sinhala civilians who lost their places in Jaffna should also be resettled.
His funeral
will be held today at 3 pm at the Colombo General Cemetery. The late Mr. Kularatne was a one-time senior vice president of the SLFP and the President of the SLFP Lawyers Association before leaving the party with Vijaya and Chandrika Kumaratunga to form the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP) in 1983. He was a member
of the three-man Royal Commission appointed by then Governor General
William Gopallawa to inquire into the affairs of the Peradeniya
University in 1974, and a year later to be a one-man commissioner
to inquire into ragging at the Vidyalankara University. On his recommendation to ban ragging, 12 students were expelled, three suspended and four officials penalized for not taking appropriate action to prevent ragging. In 1978, Mr.
Kularatne, along with Dr. Nath Amarakoon were remanded in connection
with what was known as the 'Naxalite plot', but discharged later. He was a one-time vice president of the Soviet Friendship League and headed his own law firm, V.W. Kularatne Associates. Speaker
blasts Mangala At a news conference
on Friday, Mr. Samaraweera claimed that the opposition had sent
the relevant letter to the Acting Secretary General of Parliament
before the deadline on Thursday. But the Speaker said yesterday
the letter proposing amendments to the budget had not been sent
in time and this was acknowledged by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse. The Speaker
making statement at the opening of the Parliament said that the
member had brought disrepute to the Speaker, Prime Minister and
the Leader of the opposition by making a such a statement. Other sources
told The Sunday Times that the Opposition Leader's Office had sent
the letter to Mr. Samaraweera to be signed and sent to Parliament
but it had been delayed there. Chief Government
Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe on Thursday pointed out that the Opposition
had failed to follow the standing orders and take necessary steps
to enable the committee stage vote of the budget. On Friday the government agreed to go ahead with the Committee stage after suspending the standing orders. Another
NE body goes into action The sub-committee
headed by Peace Secretariat Chief Bernard Goonetillake and the LTTE
Political Wing leader S. P Thamilchelvan will discuss specific matters
relating to resettlement and rehabilitation. The meeting
takes place prior to the donor meeting scheduled to be held in Oslo
on November 25. The Sunday
Times learns that after the aid meeting, the sub-committee will
meet again to formulate a programme to channel the funds. Meanwhile the High Security Zone sub-committee met last Sunday followed by a meeting on Wednesday between top officers of the Navy and Sea Tigers. The sub committee is scheduled to meet on December 14. LTTE
police: Inside story from the East Chris
Kamalendran in Palugamam Batticaloa The relatives
of the victim had lodged a complaint with the LTTE police in Palugamam
which was declared open on November 5. They had by-passed the local
police in the government controlled area.
The OIC after
a brief investigation had ordered the chief suspect in the killing,
to report to the LTTE's police station - a private house which has
been turned into the police station, manned by 50 policemen and
women. The suspect
was remanded until the investigations were completed. The case was
one of the many investigations handled by the LTTE's police force
for the Batticaloa and Ampara districts in the eastern province.
Since they opened they have received 135 complaints varying from
disputes over land transactions, money transactions and family disputes.
"I have
been instructed to visit any area whether it is in the cleared or
uncleared areas and carryout investigations. At the moment we have
only one unit, but we will soon be forming other divisions to handle
crime, traffic and minor offences, " inspector Rajagopal said. The response
to the LTTE Police has been good says the OIC for the station as
complaints were coming in not only from the rebel controlled areas,
but also from the cleared areas where there are government police
stations. "I came
here to lodge a complaint with the LTTE police as they are prompt
in settling disputes. I have been having a long standing land dispute
and I felt the LTTE would provide a quick solution," K.Arulanthanan
52, of Lloyds Avenue Batticaloa town who had travelled 27 kilometres,"
said. At the Police
station the police personnel especially the women were courteous
to those who called over to lodge complaints. The people are often
provided meals and even accommodation if they came from distant
areas. Transport is also provided whenever possible. The station
is seen as a prelude to the court system which the LTTE will be
introducing later this month. "We were
due to open the courts last Friday but had to postpone it as our
cadres are preparing for the Heroes week next week,"Rajagopal
said. The preparations
were being made to open the courts in a location close to the police
stations as both 'institutions' will be working closely. The Judge who
is due to take up his duties has already arrived from Jaffna. The OIC also
is from Jaffna but is to be replaced by a suitable person from the
area. For this the LTTE has just begun its recruitment drive for
the police force in the east. Pamphlets calling for new recruits
were distributed this week in the Batticaloa and Ampara villages. For the 'Sub
Inspector' post they have called for men and women between the ages
18 and 30 with Advanced Level qualification and offered a salary
of Rs. 5,000. For 'Police constable' they have called for Ordinary
level qualified persons between 18 and 30 years and offered a salary
of Rs. 4,450. The interviews are in progress for the new recruits at the political office of the LTTE. It is clear
the LTTE is gradually expanding its control in the east. Its police
already is sent out on duty to track down on illicit felling, illicit
liquor and ensure that goods of archaeological value are not removed. The LTTE will
not have many police stations, but plans to have guard posts at
every village and thereafter expand. The police posts are likely
to come up in the areas linking the eastern province to the north
eastern Trincomalee district. Life in the
eastern province has not changed significantly after the peace process
began. Little assistance has come into the areas which have been
badly affected by the war. "The funds
are not sufficient to provide assistance to the affected people
as well as carryout rehabilitation and reconstruction work,"
Batticaloa's district secretary R.Monagurusamy said. He said a large number of people were depending on government assistance with nearly 3000 people being disabled. The LTTE's authority over the villagers is spreading. One of the reasons is that communication between the LTTE and the people is easier and the other is that the influence of the LTTE is growing. On the surface, many of the villagers would speak in favour of the LTTE, but going into details they would complain about the continued collection of ransom, collecting taxes, abduction of children, and failure to allow Muslims to return and re-cultivate their own land. The rebels explain that they have to maintain some 3,000 cadres in the east and therefore are forced to collect taxes. But many of the villagers are not convinced as they believe with the dawn of peace they should be free of such harassment. The LTTE is making sure that its target is not only the uncleared areas where it is currently based in, but also the cleared areas where it is strongly involved in political activities. Trinco
Tiger cops in action He said many complaints relating to land and financial disputes had been reported to the station since it was opened last week.
Mr. Monagurusamy
told The Sunday Times that he had returned to the Batticaloa district
as the Government Agent for the third time and found that some of
the funds allocated for various projects had not been put into proper
use. "There
are also cases where the money has been utilized, but the project
has not been completed,' he said adding that inefficiency and malpractices
were the main reason for the projects not being completed properly. "We need
the LTTE's support to carry on with the projects to get better results
as corruption could be minimized by getting its help," he said. Mr. Monagurusamy
said there was a major power project coming up in the uncleared
areas and with the LTTE assistance the project was being carried
out without much problem. The District
Secretary said he had also sought the LTTE assistance to implement
some of the projects in the cleared areas as well. He said that regular consultations are held with the LTTE to discuss projects in the cleared as well as uncleared areas. LTTE
taking over main bus stands The LTTE last
week informed the members of the Private Bus Association in North
and East that they will take up the administration of the bus stand.
Although there were moves by the LTTE to take over the administration
for many weeks on Friday the LTTE had sent out an order. Following the
order, the Private Bus Owners Association sent a letter yesterday
to the LTTE seeking an appointment to discuss the matter. Association
President Gamunu Wijeratne told The Sunday Times that the Government
should take the blame if the LTTE took over the administration of
the bus stands as the Government had neglected the administration. "On several
occasions we have informed the Government that the administration
is not done properly and a special unit be set up. We can't expect
the Government Agent to look into the administration," said
Mr.Wijeratne. The association
in its letter to the LTTE said that the decision to take over the
bus stands had created much tension among the public and also that
the LTTE had no right to take over the administration. The association
has also called for a meeting with the LTTE. "We will be meeting the LTTE in the first week of December to discuss the matter," Mr. Wijeratne said.
I tried to go to the local police station in the area some time back and settle the matter, but it was not helpful," said K. Arulananthan, 52 of Lloyds Avenue, Batticaloa "later I decided to visit the LTTE political office in town. They advised me to call over at their office in Palugamam and make a complaint. That is why I came here. "Today
is my third visit in a week's time and they have summoned both parties
and have inquired into the matter. They have been able to work out
a settlement to the dispute. "I came
to the LTTE police station to make a complaint that my neighbour
was blocking the main road to my house. I tried my best to settle
the dispute without going to the police but it did not work out,"
said K.Nallathamby, 43 of Weeramunai, Ampara. "Eventually
I decided to come here . This has been my second visit to the police
station and the other party had been summoned for an inquiry. "The matter
has been settled now as my neighbour agreed to open the main road. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
