Cease Fire Agreement ceases in Sri Lanka
NI Wire
New Delhi
Thu, 03 Jan 2008:
Jan 03: Sri Lankan cabinet came out with the decision that the Cease Fire Agreement with the LTTE in 2002 brokered by Norwegian government remains invalid on January 2.
The decision came after four persons killed and 28 injured by an attack on Army vehicle by the suspected Tamil Tigerf LTTE.
Though this decision taken by the Sri Lankan government has been subjected to criticism but the Sri Lankan government justifies its decision on the behalf of thousands of life lost on the ruse of violence and violation of cease fire by LTTE.
As per the CFA the government of Sri Lanka and LTTE is to find a negotiated solution of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka , and thereafter find a solution to bring an end to hostilities and improving the living condition of all the inhabitants affected by the conflict.
However the Sri Lankan President before coming to power had vowed to scrap CFA but continue with it after getting pressurised by international community.
The decision has come shortly after Mahindra Rajapakse implicitly pointed that his government is left with no option but to abrogate CFA and ban LTTE but as of now there is no ban on LTTE but the CFA remains invalid.
The Defence Minister of Sri Lanka Gotabhaya Rajapakse is reported to have commented to a daily that the CFA had become a joke in the eyes of people with so many violations.
Sri Lankan Army has taken control over eastern region driving out the rebels from the region and currently there is an intense battle going along the Forward Defence Lines on the north.
Norway Reacted
Eric Solheim, Norway Environment and International Development minister who helped negotiate the truce reacted to the decision ??I regret the government is taking this serious step.?
??I am deeply concerned that the violence and hostilities will now escalate even further,? he added.
The LTTE has waged a violence secessionist campaign against Sri Lankan government since 70's. Till now more than 30 countries have declared LTTE as terrorist organisation. The intense conflict laid by LTTE has taken life of over 70,000 people.