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No air transport, Tigers to use sea
By Shimali Senanayake
A Norwegian-backed move to have LTTE seniors airlifted between their camps in the north and east for consultations ahead of next round of peace talks in Geneva has been turned down by the Government.

LTTE political wing chief S.P. Thamilselvan raised the matter during a meeting with Norwegian peace brokers on Wednesday. Mr. Thamilselvan had wanted LTTE senior cadres to be transported to and from Batticaloa and Trincomalee to the northern rebel capital of Kilinochchi for its central committee meeting.
He said the meeting was for consultations ahead of the next round of talks set for April 19-21.

Following the discussions with the LTTE, a Norwegian delegation led by International Development Minister Erik Solheim, discussed the issue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday, sources at the President's office said.

The new peace envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer said the move could improve relations between the parties and amount to a confidence building measure ahead of the next session of talks.

President Rajapaksa had pointed out, however, that this was not possible, as even security forces commanders were not provided with such transport facilities.

Meanwhile, the Tigers in a letter to Norway's ambassador Hans Brattskar on Friday threatened to use their own vessels via the north eastern seas after the government turned down the request of helicopter transport.
Under the ceasefire agreement, armed LTTE cadres are forbidden from moving in government-controlled areas — land and sea.

"We are now left with the alternative of making our own sea transport arrangements, conscious of the risks that would ensue if there are possible confrontations with the Sri Lanka Navy that would put the cease-fire agreement in grave risk," Mr. Thamilselvan said in a letter.Accusing the government of adopting a hard-line attitude and acting in bad faith, the Tigers suggested that arrangements be made for sea transport with SLMM monitors on board at the earliest.The government is yet to respond to the issue.

The government is yet to make a final decision over the issue.The LTTE made a similar request for air transport last month, but it was also turned down.Transport for the Tigers is not stipulated under the February 2002 cease-fire agreement but the former government under prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe provided air movement as a confidence-building measure between the parties.

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