Military victories offer political opportunity to restore life, says Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The minister's remarks follow his talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo.
"I expressed our readiness to participate in the reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka so as to overcome the ravages of war," he said in a statement, according to Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper. (www.dailymirror.lk)
"We will be working together on a reconstruction plan for these areas which will involve infrastructure and other support," said Mr Mukherjee.
"We also reviewed the humanitarian situation as a result of the conflict.
"The Sri Lankan Government has reassured that they would respect the safe zones and minimize the effects of conflict on Tamil civilians," added the minister.
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
War refugees
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a statement, has highlighted the plight of the displaced people in northern Sri Lanka.
He said the displaced in the Vanni had been ignored for so long, according to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times online.
"We repeat that the responsibility to protect all its citizens is, not only an issue of duty but also conscience. How the government addresses this critical challenge will determine the quality of a durable peace."
In his statement, the former premier also commended the government and the armed forces for the recent militory victories against the LTTE.
"We unhesitatingly and completely commend the courage, professional skill and commitment of our armed forces which have made this possible. The soveregnity of our nation has been protected and the country's territorial integrity restored," he said.
He said the UNP salutes the armed forces and also commended the services rendered by the Police and the Special Task Force in preventing acts of terrorism.
"We acknowledge that it was the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers who were responsible for overseeing the conduct of these military operations," he said.
He said the displaced in the Vanni had been ignored for so long, according to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times online.
"We repeat that the responsibility to protect all its citizens is, not only an issue of duty but also conscience. How the government addresses this critical challenge will determine the quality of a durable peace."
In his statement, the former premier also commended the government and the armed forces for the recent militory victories against the LTTE.
"We unhesitatingly and completely commend the courage, professional skill and commitment of our armed forces which have made this possible. The soveregnity of our nation has been protected and the country's territorial integrity restored," he said.
He said the UNP salutes the armed forces and also commended the services rendered by the Police and the Special Task Force in preventing acts of terrorism.
"We acknowledge that it was the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers who were responsible for overseeing the conduct of these military operations," he said.
Current situation
Read the following report in manorama online.com
New Delhi/Colombo: Hours before leaving for Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India would never tolerate the Tamil Tigers but was worried about Tamil civilians caught in the war between the rebels and Colombo.
“We are for the fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged by any organisation, and particularly the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is a banned organisation in India,” Mukherjee said before his departure later in the day for Sri Lanka.
“But we are concerned about the plight of the civilians and we shall have to see how the civilians can be protected and do not become the hapless victims of the situation,” he told reporters here.
Mukherjee's comments came as Sri Lankan troops announced after capturing the LTTE garrison town of Mullaitivu that 95 percent of the dragging war against the Tamil Tigers was over.
New Delhi/Colombo: Hours before leaving for Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India would never tolerate the Tamil Tigers but was worried about Tamil civilians caught in the war between the rebels and Colombo.
“We are for the fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged by any organisation, and particularly the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is a banned organisation in India,” Mukherjee said before his departure later in the day for Sri Lanka.
“But we are concerned about the plight of the civilians and we shall have to see how the civilians can be protected and do not become the hapless victims of the situation,” he told reporters here.
Mukherjee's comments came as Sri Lankan troops announced after capturing the LTTE garrison town of Mullaitivu that 95 percent of the dragging war against the Tamil Tigers was over.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Rule of law
"We must respond to terrorism by championing the rule of law, NOT subordinating it, for it is the cornerstone of the democratic system: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, says in an opinion piece for the Guardian newspaper.
Hope this rings in the ears of all those states dealing with minority problems.
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