Co-Chairs’ Envoys meets Thamilchelvan; LTTE firm on venue for talks

Co-Chairs statement on Monday urging government and the LTTE to start talks on Ceasefire Agreement's Implementation immediately, the Co-Chairs are committed and impartial in their effort to end violence and finding a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis, said Head of the EU Delegation in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Julian Wilson, speaking to the media in Kilinochchi.

The envoys of the Co-chairs engaged in the peace process between the LTTE and government met the rebel leaders in Kilinochchi today. The envoys decided meet the LTTE political leadership after 13 sailors were killed yesterday in Mannar by suspected LTTE cadres, endangering the already stalled peace process and the CFA.

Speaking to media after a two hour-long meeting with the delegation the LTTE's political wing leader Thamilchelvan said "The Tamil leadership is firm and will oppose Colombo's effort on imposing geographical limitations and preconditions on the venue of talks on the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and thereby alienating the Liberation Tigers from European countries".

Thamilchelvan also charged that rape by the Navy personnel in Punguduthivu and the attempted cover up of the incident by dumping her body in an abandoned well have raised the specter similar crimes against women in the past, including Sarathambal, Krishanthi and many more young Tamil women who were raped and murdered, and the Chemmani graves where many mass graves of disappeared Tamil youths were found.