A day after the European Union proscribed the Liberation Tigers as terrorists, the EU joined the other Co-Chairs of Sri Lanka’s donors – the United States, Japan and Norway – to warn of more punitive measures unless there is progress towards de-escalating the violence gripping the island.
The Co-Chairs also said that Norway had come up with a number of proposals for a final solution to the conflict which they (Co-Chairs) had endorsed and would be unveiled “soon.”
“[Meanwhile] the Co-Chairs call on both parties to take immediate steps to reverse the deteriorating situation and put the country back on the road to peace,” the quartet, who met in Tokyo Tuesday said in a statement.
Spelling out specific steps expected of the LTTE to take, they warned “The international community will respond favourably to such actions; failure to do so will lead to deeper isolation of the LTTE.”
Laying out a set of expectations of the Sri Lankan state, the Co-Chairs declared, equally ambiguously: “The international community will support such steps; failure to take such steps will diminish international support.”
The LTTE, the Co-Chairs demanded, “must re-enter the negotiating process. It must renounce terrorism and violence. It must show that it is willing to make the political compromises needed for a political solution within a united Sri Lanka. This solution should include democratic rights of all peoples of Sri Lanka.”
The Government, meanwhile, “must show that it will address the legitimate grievances of the Tamils. It must immediately prevent groups based in its territory from carrying out violence and acts of terrorism. It must protect the rights and security of Tamils throughout the country and ensure violators are prosecuted. It must show that it is ready to make the dramatic political changes to bring about a new system of governance which will enhance the rights of all Sri Lankans, including the Muslims.
In a rebuke of the hardline Sinhala nationalist government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, the Co-Chairs said: “the Tamil and Muslim peoples of Sri Lanka have justified and substantial grievances that have not yet been adequately addressed. The Co-Chairs encourage the Government of the Sri Lanka to further develop concrete policies for addressing the grievances of minorities and for building mutual confidence between different communities. The Co-Chairs and the international community will support the Government’s efforts towards implementing such policies.”
Both sides were criticised by the Co-Chairs for the spiralling violence that has left hundreds dead since hastily convened talks in Geneva in February 2006. International truce monitors say that about 600 people, more than half of them civilians, have been killed since December, leaving the truce in force only on paper.
The Co-Chairs lamented the “breakdown of law and order and the terrorization of the affected population.”
“Abuses of human rights have been assessed recently by the UN and others. The Co-Chairs call on all parties to respect human rights and pursue human rights’ abuses. This situation is not sustainable and the country will continue its slide into greater conflict unless the two protagonists cease all violence and resolve their differences through peaceful negotiation,” they said.
“Both parties have responsibilities which they have failed to deliver upon, including the commitments made at their meeting in Geneva in February 2006. The LTTE is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks. The Government has failed to prevent attacks of armed groups, including Karuna and violent elements of EPDP.”
It is the first time the Co-Chairs have spelled out the paramilitary groups the LTTE has long protested are waging a murderous Army-backed campaign against its cadres and supporters.
“The situation in Sri Lanka is of our gravest concern,” Japan’s special peace envoy, Yasushi Akashi, told the Co-Chairs meeting. “We are now indeed in a very crucial and critical turning-point in Sri Lanka.”
The Co-Chairs met after the EU formally proscribed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation following a meeting of ministers from the 25 member states on Monday and almost exactly three years since they last met. Then, they and other donors pledged US$4.5bn in aid and made it conditional on ‘progress in the peace process.’
That conditionality has since fractured as aid and loans have reached Sri Lanka via bilateral arrangements with some donors, particularly after the December 2004 tsunami.
“Over $ 3,400 million has been provided by donors based on Tokyo pledges and tsunami funds,” the Co-Chairs said. “More than 20% of that assistance has been allocated to the North and East including LTTE controlled area.”
As well as freezing LTTE funds, the EU ban, which came at the urging of the United States and the Sri Lankan government, also provides for special EU cooperation measures to combat the group.
The EU proscription coincided with a day of protests across Astralasia, North America and Western Europe by Diaspora Tamils (pictures pages 8-9). Record crowds gathered in many European cities, but it was in Canada, where the LTTE was also recently proscribed, that the unprecedented numbers of Tamils found their way past a transport strike to rally in protest at the bans.
But an EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the LTTE had brought the ban on itself.
“If they had been serious at the negotiating table we could have thought about another way, we would have set up a virtuous circle, instead of this vicious circle that we’re in at the moment,” he said.
When the Co-Chairs gave went to their frustrations Tuesday over Sri Lanka’s slide into a morass of brutality and violence, they were critical of the state also.
“Three years of work since the original Tokyo Conference shows the international community can only support but cannot deliver peace. Peace can only be delivered by Sri Lankans themselves. The Co-Chairs’ role can be meaningful only where those parties want to help themselves in bringing peace with commitment and honesty.”
Saying they “will support any solution agreed by the parties that safeguards the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, assures protection and fulfils the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people and indeed of the Muslim people, guarantees democracy and human rights, and is acceptable to all communities,” the Co-Chairs said:
“Norway has prepared a number of initiatives for the parties to return to talks, which will be issued shortly. The Co-Chairs endorsed these initiatives.”
Meanwhile, according to press reports Tuesday, the Tigers will send representatives for a two-day meeting in Norway starting June 8 to discuss the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
Three of the five Nordic countries constituting the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) are from EU member countries.
The safety of Scandinavian truce monitors will be high on the agenda after monitors become caught up in confrontations between the Sea Tigers and the Sri Lanka Navy recently.
This week the Co-Chairs reiterated their support for “the important role of Norway as facilitator to the peace process” and “the ceasefire monitoring activities of SLMM in an increasingly difficult situation.”‘
“At the same time, it is necessary to examine how to strengthen the role of SLMM,” the Co-Chairs said without elaborating.
While the situation gives cause for grave concern, the Co-Chairs concluded “the ingredients for a peaceful settlement remain present.”
“The majority in Sri Lanka still seek peace. All Co-Chairs renewed their commitment to do all possible to help Sri Lanka in a manner that promotes peace and to support the current Norwegian-facilitated peace effort. Other countries and organizations share this view and wish to support the Co-Chairs’ effort.”
Also without elaborating, the Co-Chairs said “to this end, [we] will explore interest for allocating tasks to other groups of countries to improve the efficiency of work within the areas defined by the participants in the Tokyo Conference three years ago.”
The EU blacklist was drawn up late in 2001, following the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington and is revised regularly. The militant Palestinian group Hamas and the Spanish separatist movement ETA figure on it.
The Tamil Tigers already figure on Britain’s terror list, as well as those of the United States, Canada and India.
Britain banned the Tigers in February 2001 while the EU in October slapped travel restrictions on them after holding the LTTE responsible for the August 2005 assassination of Sri Lankan foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
The EU warned at the time that the Tigers could face a complete ban, which would affect fundraising among the many Tamils living in Europe, unless they renounce violence.
The Co-Chairs also said that Norway had come up with a number of proposals for a final solution to the conflict which they (Co-Chairs) had endorsed and would be unveiled “soon.”
“[Meanwhile] the Co-Chairs call on both parties to take immediate steps to reverse the deteriorating situation and put the country back on the road to peace,” the quartet, who met in Tokyo Tuesday said in a statement.
Spelling out specific steps expected of the LTTE to take, they warned “The international community will respond favourably to such actions; failure to do so will lead to deeper isolation of the LTTE.”
Laying out a set of expectations of the Sri Lankan state, the Co-Chairs declared, equally ambiguously: “The international community will support such steps; failure to take such steps will diminish international support.”
The LTTE, the Co-Chairs demanded, “must re-enter the negotiating process. It must renounce terrorism and violence. It must show that it is willing to make the political compromises needed for a political solution within a united Sri Lanka. This solution should include democratic rights of all peoples of Sri Lanka.”
The Government, meanwhile, “must show that it will address the legitimate grievances of the Tamils. It must immediately prevent groups based in its territory from carrying out violence and acts of terrorism. It must protect the rights and security of Tamils throughout the country and ensure violators are prosecuted. It must show that it is ready to make the dramatic political changes to bring about a new system of governance which will enhance the rights of all Sri Lankans, including the Muslims.
In a rebuke of the hardline Sinhala nationalist government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, the Co-Chairs said: “the Tamil and Muslim peoples of Sri Lanka have justified and substantial grievances that have not yet been adequately addressed. The Co-Chairs encourage the Government of the Sri Lanka to further develop concrete policies for addressing the grievances of minorities and for building mutual confidence between different communities. The Co-Chairs and the international community will support the Government’s efforts towards implementing such policies.”
Both sides were criticised by the Co-Chairs for the spiralling violence that has left hundreds dead since hastily convened talks in Geneva in February 2006. International truce monitors say that about 600 people, more than half of them civilians, have been killed since December, leaving the truce in force only on paper.
The Co-Chairs lamented the “breakdown of law and order and the terrorization of the affected population.”
“Abuses of human rights have been assessed recently by the UN and others. The Co-Chairs call on all parties to respect human rights and pursue human rights’ abuses. This situation is not sustainable and the country will continue its slide into greater conflict unless the two protagonists cease all violence and resolve their differences through peaceful negotiation,” they said.
“Both parties have responsibilities which they have failed to deliver upon, including the commitments made at their meeting in Geneva in February 2006. The LTTE is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks. The Government has failed to prevent attacks of armed groups, including Karuna and violent elements of EPDP.”
It is the first time the Co-Chairs have spelled out the paramilitary groups the LTTE has long protested are waging a murderous Army-backed campaign against its cadres and supporters.
“The situation in Sri Lanka is of our gravest concern,” Japan’s special peace envoy, Yasushi Akashi, told the Co-Chairs meeting. “We are now indeed in a very crucial and critical turning-point in Sri Lanka.”
The Co-Chairs met after the EU formally proscribed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation following a meeting of ministers from the 25 member states on Monday and almost exactly three years since they last met. Then, they and other donors pledged US$4.5bn in aid and made it conditional on ‘progress in the peace process.’
That conditionality has since fractured as aid and loans have reached Sri Lanka via bilateral arrangements with some donors, particularly after the December 2004 tsunami.
“Over $ 3,400 million has been provided by donors based on Tokyo pledges and tsunami funds,” the Co-Chairs said. “More than 20% of that assistance has been allocated to the North and East including LTTE controlled area.”
As well as freezing LTTE funds, the EU ban, which came at the urging of the United States and the Sri Lankan government, also provides for special EU cooperation measures to combat the group.
The EU proscription coincided with a day of protests across Astralasia, North America and Western Europe by Diaspora Tamils (pictures pages 8-9). Record crowds gathered in many European cities, but it was in Canada, where the LTTE was also recently proscribed, that the unprecedented numbers of Tamils found their way past a transport strike to rally in protest at the bans.
But an EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the LTTE had brought the ban on itself.
“If they had been serious at the negotiating table we could have thought about another way, we would have set up a virtuous circle, instead of this vicious circle that we’re in at the moment,” he said.
When the Co-Chairs gave went to their frustrations Tuesday over Sri Lanka’s slide into a morass of brutality and violence, they were critical of the state also.
“Three years of work since the original Tokyo Conference shows the international community can only support but cannot deliver peace. Peace can only be delivered by Sri Lankans themselves. The Co-Chairs’ role can be meaningful only where those parties want to help themselves in bringing peace with commitment and honesty.”
Saying they “will support any solution agreed by the parties that safeguards the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, assures protection and fulfils the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people and indeed of the Muslim people, guarantees democracy and human rights, and is acceptable to all communities,” the Co-Chairs said:
“Norway has prepared a number of initiatives for the parties to return to talks, which will be issued shortly. The Co-Chairs endorsed these initiatives.”
Meanwhile, according to press reports Tuesday, the Tigers will send representatives for a two-day meeting in Norway starting June 8 to discuss the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
Three of the five Nordic countries constituting the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) are from EU member countries.
The safety of Scandinavian truce monitors will be high on the agenda after monitors become caught up in confrontations between the Sea Tigers and the Sri Lanka Navy recently.
This week the Co-Chairs reiterated their support for “the important role of Norway as facilitator to the peace process” and “the ceasefire monitoring activities of SLMM in an increasingly difficult situation.”‘
“At the same time, it is necessary to examine how to strengthen the role of SLMM,” the Co-Chairs said without elaborating.
While the situation gives cause for grave concern, the Co-Chairs concluded “the ingredients for a peaceful settlement remain present.”
“The majority in Sri Lanka still seek peace. All Co-Chairs renewed their commitment to do all possible to help Sri Lanka in a manner that promotes peace and to support the current Norwegian-facilitated peace effort. Other countries and organizations share this view and wish to support the Co-Chairs’ effort.”
Also without elaborating, the Co-Chairs said “to this end, [we] will explore interest for allocating tasks to other groups of countries to improve the efficiency of work within the areas defined by the participants in the Tokyo Conference three years ago.”
The EU blacklist was drawn up late in 2001, following the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington and is revised regularly. The militant Palestinian group Hamas and the Spanish separatist movement ETA figure on it.
The Tamil Tigers already figure on Britain’s terror list, as well as those of the United States, Canada and India.
Britain banned the Tigers in February 2001 while the EU in October slapped travel restrictions on them after holding the LTTE responsible for the August 2005 assassination of Sri Lankan foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
The EU warned at the time that the Tigers could face a complete ban, which would affect fundraising among the many Tamils living in Europe, unless they renounce violence.
