Associated Press,  Thu Feb 23 18:18:59 EST 2006

    ARTHUR MAX

Associated Press Writer

GENEVA (AP) _ Sri Lankan government negotiators and Tamil Tiger rebels agreed Thursday to resume their cease-fire talks in April and restrain the level of violence, Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim said.
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Solheim said the two sides agreed during two days of talks that they would meet again April 19-21 in Geneva in the effort to salvage their tattered cease-fire.
The opposing sides agreed to take ``all necessary measures to ensure that there will be no intimidation, acts of violence, abductions or killings,'' said a joint statement read by Solheim.Both sides ``are committed to respecting and upholding the cease-fire agreement,'' the statement said.


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- The Academic

Looking at the speeches made by both parties it seems to me that both parties have slandered each other and justified their actions. I do not see any progress or deescalation happening before the next round of talks.

Nimal Sripala De Silva made a big blunder in stating that the CFA is against the constitution but they will continue with it anyway. This exposed the divisions among the Government and their committment to CFA. In addition he inadvertantly brought the issue of Kadirgamar and Children Rights which exposed the weaknesses in the justice system in the South. There is no one prosecuted for Kadir's killing in Colomboo and there are many children in the South exposed to child sex tourism and slavery as noted by Tamilchelvan's response in the conference.

Reading SL Daily Mirror today it also indicates Mahinda, Somawansa and Weerawansa were together watching the proceedings from the Temple Trees and they were happy about the progress, laughing and enjoying paratta and hopper dinner.

On the otherhand LTTE got what it wanted by having the talks in Geneva and the next round in Geneva as well. In addition they will address several public meetings among Tamils in Geneva, Bern, Norway and Iceland over the next two weeks.

What I can see from here is few more rounds of talks similar to what Ranil and party did three years ago. Only difference is now the President and the JVP are in the band wagon!!!

LankanExile wrote:

there are many children in the South exposed to child sex tourism and slavery as noted by Tamilchelvan's response in the conference.

I am sure there's child sex abuse in places like TamilNadu or Thailand as well. The difference is its illegal and people end up in prison if found guilty. On the other hand, child abuse by LTTE is systematic and sanctioned by the Soorya Thevan himself.

With the new GOSL, as long as the truce holds its the LTTE who will lose.

Boogieman says:

Quote:

With the new GOSL, as long as the truce holds its the LTTE who will lose.

This is very true, Boogieman, not just with the NEW GOSL, but with ANY GOSL.

The truce was entered into during Ranil's GOSL and the split in the LTTE appeared soon after. It continued into Rajapakse's GOSL (pre-Nov 05).

When the truce holds, the LTTE is starved of war. That in itself is a loss to the LTTE. What the opponents of the CFA said at the last election was that the CFA was a sell-out and that it had delivered the Eelam.

The impression that many Rajapakse voters had at the November election was that Rajapakse would 'give back to the LTTE' with its own kind. Both the JVP and the JHU promoted this idea. That is how MR came to be described as hawkish and hardline and Ranil as spineless and soft.

It is good that MR, inspite of his pre-election bragging, has been able to hold on to Ranil's CFA. Hopefully, the latest round of talks will prevent the LTTE from violating the CFA as it has been doing up to now. On the other hand, let us hope that he will continue to have the support of the JVP and the JHU.

You see Boogieman, nothing has changed in Ranil's CFA, inspite of the new GOSL boasting about seeking amendments. The mistake Ranil made was not in signing it - as many people shouted from the rooftops. It was in the manner that the LTTE was allowed to violate it.

Ranil paid for that mistake at the election and now the UNP is paying for the mistake of having Ranil as the leader.

It is funny that SL authorities could not find child-sex details of downsouth. But it is one of the major child-sex industry in Asia next to Tahi. MR knows this and probably he will take action in the near future on them. But no one is making this issue as a political issue.
Dont go that far. Check in Pettah market/FTZ and find the child labour focrce. Also better check the ministers houses and get the list of child servent't list.
As I said earlier in the first place, GoSL don't have rights to talk about tamil childern.

kkk123 wrote:

Boogieman says:

Quote:

With the new GOSL, as long as the truce holds its the LTTE who will lose.

This is very true, Boogieman, not just with the NEW GOSL, but with ANY GOSL.

The truce was entered into during Ranil's GOSL and the split in the LTTE appeared soon after. It continued into Rajapakse's GOSL (pre-Nov 05).

When the truce holds, the LTTE is starved of war. That in itself is a loss to the LTTE. What the opponents of the CFA said at the last election was that the CFA was a sell-out and that it had delivered the Eelam.

The impression that many Rajapakse voters had at the November election was that Rajapakse would 'give back to the LTTE' with its own kind. Both the JVP and the JHU promoted this idea. That is how MR came to be described as hawkish and hardline and Ranil as spineless and soft.

It is good that MR, inspite of his pre-election bragging, has been able to hold on to Ranil's CFA. Hopefully, the latest round of talks will prevent the LTTE from violating the CFA as it has been doing up to now. On the other hand, let us hope that he will continue to have the support of the JVP and the JHU.

You see Boogieman, nothing has changed in Ranil's CFA, inspite of the new GOSL boasting about seeking amendments. The mistake Ranil made was not in signing it - as many people shouted from the rooftops. It was in the manner that the LTTE was allowed to violate it.

Ranil paid for that mistake at the election and now the UNP is paying for the mistake of having Ranil as the leader.

I think in the long run it will definitely benefit the GOSL and will be disadvantageous to the LTTE. But in the short run I think the LTTE will be at least as good, if not better, as the GOSL.

kkk123 wrote:

Boogieman says:

Quote:

With the new GOSL, as long as the truce holds its the LTTE who will lose.

This is very true, Boogieman, not just with the NEW GOSL, but with ANY GOSL.

No. Following statement of yours explains.

kkk123 wrote:

The mistake Ranil made was not in signing it - as many people shouted from the rooftops. It was in the manner that the LTTE was allowed to violate it.

Boogieman,

You have taken two independent points I made and have tried to prove your point by connecting them. Very smart.

The biggest loss to the LTTE after losing Jaffna was the split between Prabha and Karuna. This split first appeared during the ceasefire under Ranil's GOSL.

That is why I say that the CFA under any GOSL is bad for the LTTE. Many Sinhalese did not see this and rejected the CFA. Ranil could have, and should have, handled the LTTE violations better but those violations did not eliminate the advantages of the CFA to the country.

If the popularity of the LTTE is plotted against time, the fastest drop was from the time Ranil signed the CFA to the November election. That is why I say that the if the truce holds, LTTE will be the loser UNDER ANY GOSL.

LankanExile wrote:

Looking at the speeches made by both parties it seems to me that both parties have slandered each other and justified their actions. I do not see any progress or deescalation happening before the next round of talks.


What I can see from here is few more rounds of talks similar to what Ranil and party did three years ago. Only difference is now the President and the JVP are in the band wagon!!!

Remember by the part rounds of talks , LTTE didn't gain anything. LTTE lost big time by the Karuna split.
For all the macho talk from the Wanni gang leaders that 'It was an internal matter, and we will take care of it'. After 3 years, they are asking the GOSL to give them Karuna. Karuna is the major head-ache for the LTTE Terrorists.

Who knows, after another 6 rounds of talk, VP might turn against Tamilselvam or even better the second-tier leaders trun against VP and make him the 'mother-of-all-traitors'.

As long as there is no WAR in the country, LTTE is the looser.

THE_ACA_USR wrote:

It is funny that SL authorities could not find child-sex details of downsouth. But it is one of the major child-sex industry in Asia next to Tahi. MR knows this and probably he will take action in the near future on them. But no one is making this issue as a political issue.
Dont go that far. Check in Pettah market/FTZ and find the child labour focrce. Also better check the ministers houses and get the list of child servent't list.
As I said earlier in the first place, GoSL don't have rights to talk about tamil childern.

Thank you for the pathetic attempt to justify the child-absues by the LTTE.

It is a fact that lots of children are forced into labour in Sri Lanka and in most of the developing world. But that is different from forcing children to take up the arms, brain wash them and turning them into killing machines. That is exactly the LTTE terrorists are doing.

The LTTE terrorists and its sick leaders are the one destroying the future generations of Tamil kids, with the immense help from the expatriate Tamils.  While these poor kids are forced into the LTTE ranks, the kids of the LTTE leaders are enjoying thier lives in the western countries. So are the kids of those expatriate Tamils who support the LTTE and send them dollars, euros and sterlings.

Janet wrote:

The LTTE terrorists and its sick leaders are the one destroying the future generations of Tamil kids, with the immense help from the expatriate Tamils.  While these poor kids are forced into the LTTE ranks, the kids of the LTTE leaders are enjoying thier lives in the western countries. So are the kids of those expatriate Tamils who support the LTTE and send them dollars, euros and sterlings.

You all read the news from lanka truth, (which is nothing but garbage) and talking here.  
Have you ever lived in a war effected area. It is not like Colombo or a village in south. Think if Royal College is bombed by SLA and part of the college building is occupied by SLA and checking the students as suspects, daily when they go to school. If your parents/family members have been killed by bombing
where will the kids end up. The parents also no option left to do. I lived, seen this activities in from my childhood.
As you said child-abuse is a problem in Asia. But this problem has to be approached as society problem not a politicalise one. That is what Tamilchelven mentioned. LTTE have created child-homes (like hope houses), for many years ago. There many underage kids are getting rehabilitation who were effected by war. This process is now jointly run with UNICEF.
In war effected countries parentless and injured kids are a huge problem. GoSL ever talked about this. Have you ever thought about this rather than writing imaginary things.
You all read more stories created by JVP/JHU and co and deserved to live in an imaginary world (thats your rights).
And one more thing, since there are enough people like you out there, it is easy for LTTE to get more carders. Also, you are saying LTTE are loosers on talks. But you think the peace is the gainer?? Where do you want to bring the country?? You should be ashamed to talk like this after 50 years ruling the country and making the country worse.

THE_ACA_USR wrote:

Janet wrote:

The LTTE terrorists and its sick leaders are the one destroying the future generations of Tamil kids, with the immense help from the expatriate Tamils.  While these poor kids are forced into the LTTE ranks, the kids of the LTTE leaders are enjoying thier lives in the western countries. So are the kids of those expatriate Tamils who support the LTTE and send them dollars, euros and sterlings.

You all read the news from lanka truth, (which is nothing but garbage) and talking here.  
Have you ever lived in a war effected area. It is not like Colombo or a village in south. Think if Royal College is bombed by SLA and part of the college building is occupied by SLA and checking the students as suspects, daily when they go to school. If your parents/family members have been killed by bombing

Don't try to be emotional about this. LTTE had kidnapped children on thier way to school, on the way to home and forced them into trianing. This is not from lanka truth or whatever. From reputed human rights organisations. UTHR reports came out in 2002-2003 detail several such incidents with names, times and places. I know the LTTE .  consider UTHR reports 'not-reliable' only beacuse these reports showcase LTTE crimes.

TAMILSELVAM CONVINIENTLY BLAME THESE KIDNAPPINGS ON KARUNA. What this fool forgets is that KAruna was part of the LTTE at that time, and had carried out all those crimes on the orders/ blessings of Thecia thalavar.

LTTE's forceful recruitment of children is well documented by various organisations including the United Nations.
The so-called orphanages run and managed by the LTTE are simply recruitment centers for future LTTE cadres. By getting orphan children and feed them, pet them and provide them with a sense of security, Velupillai is making sure these children will grow up loyal to him, that he could use them as his 'guards'. These children are made to worship this terrorist as a 'father figure'. Velupillai can trust these kids to put thier lives to safe his life. That is the reason, my friend, VP is running these orphanages, and making a fool out of you Tamils showing that he cares for these kids. You give money to the VP's gang to run these orphanages, and he makes sure he has a continues supply of loyal cadres to save his life.

If VP is so concerned about the kids, why did he kill fathers in front of children? LTTE terrorists has time and again gunned down parents right in front of the kids...

How many kids and infants VP has made orphans by killing the parents?  You tamils, are fooling yourselves beleving into the 'illusions' this terrorist has created.

THE_ACA_USR wrote:

where will the kids end up. The parents also no option left to do. I lived, seen this activities in from my childhood.
As you said child-abuse is a problem in Asia. But this problem has to be approached as society problem not a politicalise one. That is what Tamilchelven mentioned. LTTE have created child-homes (like hope houses), for many years ago. There many underage kids are getting rehabilitation who were effected by war. This process is now jointly run with UNICEF.
In war effected countries parentless and injured kids are a huge problem. GoSL ever talked about this. Have you ever thought about this rather than writing imaginary things.
You all read more stories created by JVP/JHU and co and deserved to live in an imaginary world (thats your rights).
And one more thing, since there are enough people like you out there, it is easy for LTTE to get more carders. Also, you are saying LTTE are loosers on talks. But you think the peace is the gainer?? Where do you want to bring the country?? You should be ashamed to talk like this after 50 years ruling the country and making the country worse.

I am not pretending the peace is  gaining in Sri Lanka. The people of Sri Lanka , both Tamils and Sinhala, aren't ready for peace. These two communities are polarised. The people aren't desperate for peace.

I can't speak for those people who were 50 years ago. Live in the present and look to the future.
LTTE has killed all the other Tamil leadership. And LTTE will not be allowed to run the admisnitartion., It is pure and simple. So how can we solve this problem? IN fact, it is upto the Tamils to decide how they want to solve this? How they want to move forward. If they say, LTTE is our sole representatives, and they are the ones the goernemnt has to talk to, well, you are up against the wall. The government will 'pretend' they are talking to the LTTE, but won't deliver. Thats what happening now-

Janet wrote:

LTTE had kidnapped children on thier way to school, on the way to home and forced them into trianing.
TAMILSELVAM CONVINIENTLY BLAME THESE KIDNAPPINGS ON KARUNA. What this fool forgets is that KAruna was part of the LTTE at that time, and had carried out all those crimes on the orders/ blessings of Thecia thalavar.
If VP is so concerned about the kids, why did he kill fathers in front of children? LTTE terrorists has time and again gunned down parents right in front of the kids...
How many kids and infants VP has made orphans by killing the parents?  You tamils, are fooling yourselves beleving into the 'illusions' this terrorist has created.

I can't speak for those people who were 50 years ago. Live in the present and look to the future.

"LTTE had kidnapped children....."
I was living in the war effected area till 2004. I know only EPDP (during IPKF period) kidnapped children in public places and schools. Other than that I know students and young men in mass going to LTTE areas by on their own to fight against GoSL. There are no secrets on those. But stories like UTHER(J) and co. are writing is not in reality. Why don't you go to Jaffna/Batticaloa and stay there for few days and see the reality. Or go to Mulaitheevu or Kilinochi to see the Child-houses and then write.

Karuna kidnapped kids once he returned from the peace talks. Then only the problem between the head of LTTE is started for Karuna. He wanted to have a big force in a short term when he wanted to break from LTTE. Parts of those children were released immediately after fight against karuna and rest of them supposed to be with karuna.
Did you read the full text of Tamilchelvan's speech (there is no south media - other than tamil- print this text fully)? He invited south politicians to come and see the reality and take messures jointly if they wish to make this as an issue. So, why don't you take initiate and go there if you think that LTTE is relly doing this even after that, tell world the truth.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17277

(if you can get the full text from other site its fine. You are not supposed to believe one sided news)
"If VP is so concerned about the kids, why did he kill fathers in front of children.."
Talking about GoSL regular search operation?? As I said you deserved to live in your own world. Do you remember that JVP killed families of the Army in 1988 and controlling the peace talks now. Recently a boy was killed by SLA in front of his parents.

"I can't speak for those people who were 50 years ago. Live in the present and look to the future."
If you don't want to see the history better stop writing, better not to reply. This problem is not started suddenly. It is grown through the years to this stage. Before 1893, Only few know about  LTTE. IF GoSL solved the problem then we might be having a wonderful land in this ISland. May be a power shared district council might be a better solution in 1960 rather than the federal solution now.

Tamil children are regularly abducted at school and on the way to school. Often if they escape other members of their family are abducted also.

This is reported by their parents, and on occasion by the children themselves when they manage to escape.

If there really were thousands of youngsters wanting to join the LTTE it wouldn't have to resort to kidnapping. The reason it wishes to continue with the practice is that it is suffering from an even graver recruitment crisis than the SLA.