The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have rejected Sri Lankan government proposed peace talks in Geneva, following reports of abductions of pro-Tiger aid workers.
The government of President Mahinda Rajapakse said last Friday that talks were due to start in Switzerland on 15th February and were necessary to stop recent violence from escalating and reviving a two-decade-old war.
But an anonymous Tiger spokesman said yesterday: ‘The 15 February is completely out. The Tigers are keen to go to Geneva for talks; but the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) abductions have affected the atmosphere.’
Referring to the reported abduction of ten TRO aid workers, he added: ‘The Tamil people are in a panic and are very upset, so the Tigers cannot meet the government’s 15 February talks deadline, and are instead aiming for talks at the end of February.’
The LTTE demands that any talks should focus on implementation of a ceasefire agreed in 2002, and, in particular, a clause that stipulates that the Sri Lankan state must disarm paramilitaries the Tigers say are attacking them.
The Tigers are also warning that talks are doomed if the government tries to amend the terms.
The LTTE said yesterday that the ten TRO aid workers were abducted by government-backed paramilitaries in the island’s east.
The claim has been denied by the government and the Sri Lankan military.
Three aid workers have since been released, but details of the reported abductions remain vague.
Government officials have refused to comment on the LTTE decision on the talks but have ordered an inquiry into the fate of the seven aid workers still missing.
Meanwhile, diplomats are saying they fear the island could slide back to war.
President Mahinda Rajapakse called for national unity during a national Independence Day address on Saturday.
• Second news story
AIRLINE BANKRUPTCY FEARS
Fears of hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers being left stranded as a result of more airline and tour company collapses have led MPs to repeat a call for flight levies.
The House of Commons Transport Committee is urging the government to reconsider calls for a £1 levy on flights abroad to protect passengers from sudden bankruptcies.
The committee warned that millions of Britons travel without insurance each year, and criticised the government for a lack of action.
MPs cited last summer’s collapse of low fare airline EUjet, which left thousands stranded, as an example of what could go wrong.
Transport committee chairman, Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody attacked as ‘wrong’ the government’s decision to reject a call for a £1 levy at the time, from industry regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The CAA had said it could cost passengers up to £200 to return home to Britain in the wake of such an event.
Dunwoody said: ‘Plans for voluntary arrangements for repatriation are amateurish. Millions of air travellers continue to fly unprotected against the risk of an airline collapse.’
She insisted that the advantage of the levy far outweighed the additional cost.