• Baghdad gives big tea order to Lanka 
• Angry TULF to topple Budget 
• Fatchett not to revive Fox 
• Lanka's bid to save SAARC friends fails 
• Soldiers, civilians stranded 

Baghdad gives big tea order to Lanka

By Mel Gunasekera

The order comes after a high-powered ministerial delegation led by Trade Minister Kingsley Wickremaratne visited Baghdad to discuss the resumption of tea exports, after the relaxation of UN sanctions and tea being removed from the embargoed list. 

The announcement regarding country allocations for tea under the next round, would be made next month and it is likely that exports would begin early next year. 

Sri Lanka was left out in the last two allocations as the Iraqi government was displeased that Sri Lanka did not send a ministerial delegation to negotiate the resumption of tea exports, the sources said. Hence, India, China, Vietnam and Indonesia were the main beneficiaries when tea was removed from the list of banned items. 

However, trade sources said it was strange that the tea delegation of this significance was not led by a senior tea board official, instead the tea exporters keen on doing trade with Iraq had joined the minister. 

Angry TULF to topple Budget

By S. S. Selvanayagam

The government depends on the support of Tamil parties for its parliamentary majority and another leading Tamil party, the EPDP, also indicated yesterday it might review its stand. 

Taking the decision to oppose the Budget at an executive committee meeting, the moderate Tamil United Liberation Front also expressed shock over a statement made by President Kumaratunga to South African television that the minority community in Sri Lanka was not the original people of country. 

The TULF said the President's claim was contrary to historical evidence. 

The TULF also decided it would write to the President to tell her statement demeaned the Tamil community and caused anguish to them. 

It also criticised Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar for denying that President Kumaratunga made such a statement, though it was broadcast on state television Rupavahini. 

The TULF resolution states that the continuous allocations of large sums of money for defence expenditure despite the cruel loss of life and immense destruction caused by the continuance of the war indicates the priority the government gives to military efforts. 

It notes that the TULF has during the past four years voted against the defence allocation to indicate its disapproval, but the defence allocation is increased every year. 

To express its strong disapproval of the continuing commitment of the government to its military efforts the TULF has resolved unanimously to vote against the budget. 

The TULF again called upon the government and the LTTE to start constructive talks with the assistance of a third party to find a lasting solution to the national problem. 

Responding to the TULF decision to vote against the budget, EPDP leader Douglas Devananda told The Sunday Times they were studying how the budget would affect the day-to-day life in the North-East. He said the EPDP would submit some proposals and it would be compelled to review its stand on voting on the budget, if the government failed to consider its proposals. 

Fatchett not to revive Fox

Foreign Office officials played down speculation that the Fatchett visit was to revive the Dr. Liam Fox Agreement of April last year. 

The agreement said the President should keep the Opposition Leader briefed on important developments on the ethnic conflict and to ensure the opposition would abide by decisions taken by this government if it had given its concurrence to those decisions. 

The UNP has been complaining that the agreement is being exercised in the breach and that there were moves by some ministers to discuss the devolution package through it. 

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who was a key player in bringing about this bi-partisan approach told The Sunday Times last night there was no compulsion for the UNP to discuss the devolution package under the Fox Agreement if it chose not to. 

He said the agreement specifically bound the opposition only if it gave its concurrence to government proposals. 

Mr. Kadirgamar said he welcomed the opposition leader's recent offer of co-operation for the Government initiative to begin talks with India for an Indo-Lanka free trade area. 

He said the President's Economic Adviser and High Commissioner designate to London Dr. Lal Jayewardene would be in New Delhi on November 15 and 16 for talks. 

The Foreign Office said yesterday that the agenda for the Fatchett-Kadirgamar talks included discussions on an extradition treaty, trade, child soldiers and for Sri Lanka to report on the progress of its human rights record and Britain to report on the progress on its recent legislation to ban overseas terrorist groups. 

Lanka's bid to save SAARC friends fails

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

As chairperson of SAARC, Sri Lanka moved several amendments to a resolution sponsored by Canada, Australia and New Zealand, condemning India and Pakistan for joining the nuclear club in May. 

All SAARC member states voted in support of the Sri Lankan amendments to the resolution, reflecting a common SAARC position on the issue. 

The amendment was however defeated with heavy pro-West lobbying in support of the resolution, condemning both India and Pakistan. 

Sri Lanka initially supported India's decision to join the nuclear club and ran into criticism from Pakistan. Later the position was clarified and Sri Lanka's stance now is that it is in favour of global nuclear disarmament and is opposed to India and Pakistan being singled out for condemnation. 

Soldiers, civilians stranded

By S.S. Selvanayagam and Chris Kamalendran

Soon after the National Security Council meeting on Wednesday, the President summoned the outgoing Jaffna Commander Lionel Balagalla and his successor Asoka Jayawardene to discuss the situation in the north. 

Following the three-hour meeting, the government clamped a ban on fishing in the Jaffna lagoon from 5 a.m. on Thursday. Fishermen were informed that they would be given alternative areas for fishing in the Pannai causeway. 

Some 5000 Tamils in Trincomalee and 1500 in Jaffna are stranded without transport after the peninsula was cut off from air and sea links following the alleged attacks on the LionAir plane last month and on ships. 

Scores of soldiers in garrisons in the peninsula are also unable to come on home-leave because the Air Force is unable to provide adequate transport facilities. The crisis came amidst reports that the LTTE had asked schools in Jaffna to close down and teachers to contribute 10 per cent of their salaries to the LTTE. 

Letters purported to be signed by 'Thuyavan', LTTE's political wing leader for Jaffna, had been posted to schools. The letter said the Tamils were in the latter stage of their freedom struggle. "First we have to win our struggle, then we can study," it said. 

The LTTE is reported to have also asked private bus operators to stop plying and a few posters have come up in the peninsula urging civilians to boycott all transport services. 

Meanwhile, the TULF and TELO skipped a meeting with President Kumaratunga on Friday where some of these issues were discussed with other Tamil parties. 

The meeting scheduled for noon began over three hours late with EPDP, PLOTE and EPRLF leaders participating. 

The discussion centred on security and civilian life in the peninsula. The President had agreed to provide dry rations to fishermen affected after the latest ban on fishing. She also told defence officials to work out a formula to provide small arms for local government councillors. 

She also agreed to provide double cabs and motor cycles to local bodies in the peninsula. 

In response to a request to resume civilian air services to Jaffna, the President said the LTTE was in need of an aircraft and intelligence reports indicated the LTTE already had two airstrips in the jungles. She ruled out the resumption of air services for these reasons. 

As the National Security Council meeting was in progress in Colombo, 500 refugees and 6000 more Tamils civilians staged a sit-in protest opposite the Divisional Secretariat and the refugee camp in Trincomalee. 

The refugees and the civilians were demanding that they be provided with transport to the Jaffna peninsula. Since September 19, there had been no ships to carry passengers from Trincomalee to Jaffna. From September 2 to 19, some 6000 refugees have been taken to Jaffna in five shipsloads. 

More than 1000 refugees and civilians have signed a memorandum and faxed it to the Commissioner General of Essential Services. 

The sit-in protest continued till Friday. A spokesman said they would resume their protests till transport was provided. 

They were demanding that the security force personnel should not be taken in passenger vessels. 

Divisional Secretary Velummylum told The Sunday Times he had informed the Commissioner General of Essential Services that 3000 passengers had registered to go back to Jaffna. 

At least another 2000 passengers are stranded in the Jaffna peninsula. 

"Lanka Muditha" which was turned back to Kankesanthurai on October 31 after the LTTE attacked a naval convoy in the seas off Mullaitivu docked at the Trincomalee harbour last Wednesday with 527 civilians. Reports said the ship arrived in Trincomalee on Wednesday but its captain is said to be refusing to sail back.