THE AMERICAN CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG
If the government forces are removed from the North war crimes charges will be withdrawn
The demand rejected by the Sri Lankan government
Sri Lankan government has totally rejected the American demand to consider withdrawal of Sri Lankan Government forces from the North and five other stipulations. The Americans have stated that if the Government of Sri Lanka agrees to implement these six stipulations the proposed motion on war crimes will not be tabled in Geneva in March. The senior government sources told Sunday Diviana that the Sri Lankan government will not sacrifice the national interests and the national security in consideration of the US proposals.
Among the US demands are : to provide all powers to the North and the East including the powers regarding land and the Police, to initiate an independent inquiry into the defence force personnel who are alleged to have committed war crimes, to let the NGOs and the media operate without any restrictions, to take legal action or to free the LTTE suspects presently in custody.
The according to the Government sources they have refused to consider the proposals favourably as the US demand is closely connected to the national security and if accepted will pave way for the armed separatism.
Meantime, most of the countries have informed Sri Lankan government they have no alternative but to support the American proposal as they are dependent on American aid. The motion against Sri Lanka which will be tabled on 26th March will be sponsored jointly by the USA, Canada, the UK, Switzerland and Norway
Reported by Keerthi Warankulasuriya
(The main news item published in Sunday Divaina of 19th January –translated by Ranjith Soysa)
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