Friday, October 1, 2004
Kumaratunga warns LTTE on "serial killings"
Agence France-Presse Colombo, September 30
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Thursday accused Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels of killing their opponents despite a ceasefire and warned that the government will not tolerate the murders.
The LTTE had continued "serial killings" despite a truce brokered by Norway in February 2002, president office said in a statement.
"President Kumaratunga says the government can not tolerate the continuous murders of members of unarmed democratic Tamil political parties by the LTTE," the statement cautioned.
It did not say what action Kumaratunga would take to stem the slaughter which she blames on the Tamil Tigers, who suspended their participation in peace talks in April last year.
"The LTTE has continued its serial killings of members of Tamil parties, who had entered the democratic mainstream ever since the ceasefire agreement was signed in February 2002," the statement said.
It said Kumaratunga had cautioned the then-government in 2002 about the flaws in the ceasefire and the "possibility of a situation that is now prevalent."
Kumaratunga sacked that government in February after accusing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of making too many concessions to the Tigers and jeopardising national security.
"As for the killings in the South, especially in Colombo, the President assured the government will act with responsibility to put an end to this form of terrorism," the statement said.
Tiger rebels have routinely denied killing their rivals and in turn, accused the military of supporting a breakaway Tiger rebel faction in attacks on the main guerrilla group.
Norwegian-backed peace talks remain on hold despite several attempts by Oslo to revive the negotiations.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.