Sri lanka - Rajapaksa gives LTTE 48-hour ultimatum

by Hiranya Malwatta | January 29, 2009 at 12:21 pm

647 views | 9 Recommendations | 10 comments

Rajapaksa gives LTTE 48-hour ultimatum

Colombo (PTI): Acting on India's concerns, President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday night assured that civilians in the war zone in Sri Lanka will be given "safe passage" and asked LTTE to allow their free movement within 48 hours after they were allegedly kept as human shields by the rebels in the embattled north.

"I urge the LTTE, within the next 48 hours to allow free movement of civilians to ensure their safety and security. For all those civilians, I assure a safe passage to a secure environment. I also assure all those living in the North and in conflict areas in particular", he said in a statement.

"It is unfortunate that the LTTE is exploiting this declared safe zone for civilians by placing their heavy artillery within the safe zone and using it as a launching pad to attack Security Forces and indiscriminately kill civilians," Rajapaksa said in a statement. Following the appeal, there is expected to be a temporary halt of hostilities.

The Red Cross estimates 250,000 civilians are trapped in the territory still under rebel control. Human rights groups have accused the rebels of keeping them as human shields, a charge the Tigers deny.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had rushed to Colombo on Tuesday night for urgent talks with Rajapaksa and sought an assurance from Rajapakse about the safety of ethnic Tamils caught in the conflict.

Rajapaksa said his government, since its election, has always been concerned about the welfare of all citizens of Sri Lanka and their economic and social progress.

"The welfare of the citizens of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, especially of those in areas dominated by the LTTE, has been of even greater concern to my Government", he said.

"As a result, my Government has always been committed to usher peace in those regions", Rajapaksa said.

This is to ensure that all people of Sri Lanka, especially those in the North and the East, will have the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and choose their leaders freely through elections, he said.

The people can realise their political aspirations within the democratic framework that has flourished in Sri Lanka for long years, he said.

After gaining control of the Eastern Province from the terrorists, Rajapksa government made it possible for the local pupulations (Tamils and Muslims mostly and some Sinhalese) to elect their Provincial leaders. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan is the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province who was formerly with LTTE and has been at one time a child soldier. Large populations of the local Muslim community that was chased away by the LTTE in Eastern Province are being resettled. Some have come to their homes for the first time since 1984. Large development projects are being carried out.

A foreign national gives some insight:

School

Returned Mother

2008-11-13
In 1984 they fled Nawalwaththe near Trincomalee in Sri Lanka because of violence from the Tamil Tigers. This year, after the Sri Lankan military regained control over this area, they returned.
by martien van asseldonk

The resident citizens of Sri Lanka believe that the government will carry out similar plans for the North as it did for the East after gaining total control, and democracy will be restored.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Tiana

at 13:27 on January 29th, 2009

Without the presence of International media coverage, the civilians will not be safe even if they escape. Not in the hands of the army. :(

WilliamBaptist

at 19:49 on January 29th, 2009

Rajapaksa wants to kill all the Civilians before kills the LTTE.

WilliamBaptist

at 20:41 on January 29th, 2009

Recently Your stupid government is killing Civilians including children( There is no international Journalists allowed by the Sri Lankan Government)

Create "Safe zone" & Order civilians to go there then Your stupid government shells and kills them.

Some people thaught it will be safer to stay around one of the UN building then Your stupid government shells and kills those people.

Those who fled from the LTTE controlled area have been arrested by the Ruthless Barbaric Terrorist Government of Sri Lanka then placed them by the SL Army Camps as Human Shiel. Among those IDPs they select the youths and separate them to diffrent camps, where they torture and rape the young men and women

Child soldiers: Your stupid government is the one using child soldiers not LTTE

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/sri-lankan-governmets-child-soldier-killed

In the begining the LTTE accpeted the 17 years old capable fighters to join then after UN condemn the child soldiers so the freedom fighters LTTE told them we took arm to get freedom from this Ruthless Genocidal barbaric Sri Lankan Government, we didn't go and study international law, if UN says the 17 years old is too young we will release them and they kept their word and released them. After that they never accepeted any one under the age of 18.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 20:58 on January 29th, 2009

hehe quite funny :)

What about the 14 year olds then?

Ruwan Dimitri (not verified)

at 22:30 on January 29th, 2009

Looks like there is a bunch of defeated LTTE propagandists ready to make a last ditch attempt at tarnishing the government and people of Sri Lanka, and their overwhelming recent success at crushing the worlds most ruthless terrorist organization. In the course of this recent military campaign the Sri Lankan armed forces had taken extreme precaution to minimize the loss of civilian life in the battle zones. We all know the genuine change in the Government and military mindset since the 1987-89 UNP vs. JVP days (when the army was not so cautious about harming innocents, thousands of Sinhalese at that). I will not discuss the merits of the present war on terror in SL, except to say it was most welcome by the vast majority of the populous of all races. And it is almost over now, this 30 year curse of terror. What remains in the coming days is to make sure that the last of the most violent and perverse of human beings in the LTTE leadership are either captured and changed in mindset (doubtful) or eliminated (likely). A special thank you to our President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Tiana

at 03:44 on January 30th, 2009

The majority of us tamils are neither supporters of the government nor ltte. You know what, you people will know the truth when the world sees the real situation in Sri Lanka that the government is not as perfect as you think. Each successive governement since Jayawardena has not shown a great improvement to the terror suffered in Jayawardena days, namely Premadasa, Chandrika and Rajapakse. The ltte's killings of innocent people hasn't helped either. You guys might praise the government with blood on their hand, but we praise neither the government nor the ltte. All the general tamil population wants is to live peacefully. Like the tsunami wasn't enough, now the people of Mullaitivu has to go through this bloodshed. People want an end to innocent lives being taken. But they also want the voices to be heard.

Its funny how the majority of the singhalese people think they know how the tamils feel. Well here's a bit of news for you, tamils DO NOT appreciate the governement/ltte and their actions.

Tiana

at 03:47 on January 30th, 2009

"minimize the loss of civilian life in the battle zones"

You call 300+ lives being taken and over 1000 being injured minimal??!? What a sick joke!

Tiana

at 04:01 on January 30th, 2009

By the way, we are everyday civilians right?? As far as I'm aware anyway. We seem to be disagreeing on the governement and what the government has put the people through. Once the war is over, do you really see peace if you refuse to believe our words about people's struggles?? There might be no violence, but the minds won't agree. People will not appreciate their voices being unheard or simply dismissed. This is not the vision of Sri Lanka everybody dreams of. People will need to be open to other people's opinions and heartache. The way I see it, tamils are not supporters of either forces. But the singhalese population on this website seem hellbent that the government is perfect and refuse to accept anything that the tamils have to say. Should not be like that people. Listen to each other.