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Pakistan warns of reprisals
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Pakistan warns of
reprisals CARTAGENA, Colombia, May 20 — India has insisted at a Non-Aligned Movement meeting that it plans no more nuclear tests. But that pledge to foreign ministers and other delegates from the 113-nation Non-Aligned Movement in this Caribbean port city on Tuesday may be too little, too late to avert a Cold War-style nuclear arms race in South Asia. Seeking to justify the tests — and what he called "the enormously difficult decision" to conduct them — India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhra Raje alluded to the fact that India was wedged between nuclear-armed China and nuclear-capable Pakistan, its arch-enemy. "We have found ourselves surrounded by nuclear weapons, either overtly or covertly deployed," he said. "Our government had to take steps, therefore, to ensure that, if the security of our people, who constitute one-fifth of humanity, was threatened, we would have the same capability to defend them as those which the nuclear weapon states consider essential for themselves." He stressed that "no further tests are planned" and that they were strictly for defensive reasons and did "not undermine international peace and security" or "any international legal obligation" binding on India. But apart from the punitive economic sanctions Washington clamped on New Delhi last week, its Hindu-led nationalist government’s decision to break a 24-year moratorium on experimental nuclear tests threatens to unleash a full-fledged and costly arms race in South Asia. Mohammad Siddique Khan Kanju, Pakistan’s minister of state for foreign affairs, warned Non-Aligned colleagues at the meeting here that India’s trials had created "an extremely dangerous situation in South Asia" that Islamabad would respond to with "any or all steps it deems necessary." "The security environment in South Asia has deteriorated sharply by the resumption of nuclear testing by India of a whole range of weaponry which it has clandestinely produced," he said. India conducted the tests "with a view to advancing its hegemonic designs," he added. "This has created an extremely dangerous situation in South Asia and one which carries grave implications for global peace and security." (Reuter) India nuke tests Sri Lanka will explain her position over the Indian nuclear tests to China when Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar visits China this week to meet the new Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan authoritative sources said yesterday. Both government and diplomatic sources confirmed the scheduled meeting between the two foreign ministers. "The visit," an informed sources said was planned well before India conducted five nuclear tests on May 11 and 13. Arrangements for the visit was made soon after Tang Jiaxuan was appointed the Foreign Minister in March. Minister Kadirgamar was to arrive in Beijing at the end of two day meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement [NAM] at Cartegena, Columbia. It ended yesterday. It was not clear whether foreign ministry officials who accompanied Minister Kadirgamar to Cartegena would join him in Beijing. Minister Kadirgamar meets the Chinese Foreign Minister Jiaxuan soon after Pakistani Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed held talks with the Chinese, diplomatic sources said. Sri Lankan officials denied the possibility of Sri Lanka-China or Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations being affected in view of the Sri Lanka’s stand on the Indian nuclear tests. "There was no need to," a senior official said adding that both China and Pakistan have been two of Sri Lanka’s closest friends. Minister Kadirgamar arrives in Beijing after meeting the Deputy Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammed Siddique in Cartegena. "Minister Kadirgamar," the government spokesman said was to explain Sri Lanka’s position on Indian nuclear tests and other related issues. About 24 hours after India concluded the second set of tests, Sri Lanka expressed concern over both missile and nuclear tests in the region. Later both Minister Kadirgamar and his deputy, Lakshman Kiriella defended India’s right to conduct nuclear tests. Sri Lanka believes in global disarmament, sources said. Diplomatic sources said that Sri Lanka’s reference to missile tests may have raised eyebrows as both Pakistan and China have tested missiles believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads. According to a Reuter report, a new type of air to air missile had been fired by a Chinese jet fighter this month. The test had been conducted over the Bandanjilin desert. It had involved the jet fighter shooting down an unmanned drone. Minister Kadirgamar is expected to meet the US Ambassador Shaun Edward Donnelly after his return from Beijing. The US Embassy has sought a meeting with Minister Kadirgamar after Sri Lanka surprised the Colombo based diplomatic community by defending India’s right to conduct nuclear tests. The US has sought to clarify Sri Lanka’s position. "We never expected this," one diplomatic source said. Sri Lanka is perhaps the only country which came out openly in support of India. Sources said that there was no difference in what Sri Lanka has to say to China, Pakistan, the United States or any other country which wish to know Sri Lanka’s position. A former Sri Lankan diplomat said that this was not the only time Sri Lanka took India’s side under controversial circumstances. He said that Sri Lanka came out openly in support of India when Indian forces regained Goa in 1962."Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to United Nations, Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekara spoke in support of India and opposed internationl action against India for the military action," the diplomat said. In 1962 Indian forces forced the Portuguese to leave Goa. Both government and diplomatic sources said that there has been a tremendous improvement in Indo-Lanka relations in the past few years. Sri Lanka scheduled to host the next summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation [SAARC] in mid July believes that all countries in the region and the international community must work towards total disarmament. Senior Sri Lankan diplomat Jayantha Danapala recently led the UN Weapons Inspection Team to Iraq. "India," another source said had not broken any international law adding that she was not part to the UN’s 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. According to him even the Vienna headquartered UN’s atomic energy watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency has taken the same position. Meanwhile political sources said that Sri Lanka’s stand on Indian nuclear tests may result in increase Indian backing to current efforts to solve the North-East problem. Upali Group donates 18 artificial limbs to disabled soldiers Upali Group of Companies yesterday donated artificial limbs to 18 soldiers who had lost their limbs in the ongoing war. This was the second time that the Group made a gesture of concern towards those disabled by the conflict. On February 17 the birth anniversary of the founder of the Group Upali Wijewardene, artificial limbs were donated to six service personnel who had lost their legs. The purchase of the limbs was financed by donations made by the staff of the company. A former director, Susantha Gunawardena too numbered among the donors. A collection was made early this year to enable the donation of six artificial legs. But the response was so overwhelming that there was Rs 361,665 in excess of the required amount. It was decided that this money too would be spent to provide some form of succour to the disabled war heroes. The owner of the factory manufacturing the artificial limbs also donated one on his account. A total of 19 artificial limbs were donated on this occasion. The Chairman of the Upali Group Dr. Sivali Ratwatte, chairperson of Upali Newspapers Mrs. Lakmani Welgama, its Executive Director Nimal Welgama, and members of the directorate Mr. D. Attygalle, Mr. Edmund Ranasinghe, Mr. James Lanerolle and Mr. Udawatte, and other representatives of the various components of the Upali Group were among those who participated in the event which was held at the head office. The recipients of the artificial limbs were Mr. W. M. Wimalaratne (30), Mr. T. M. Abeyratne (46), Mr. P. V. N. Chandrasena (28), Mr. W. P. Weeratunga (34), Mr. L. A. D. Susantha Kumara (26), M. R. Silva (43), L. R. S. Maddumabandara (22), D. M. Nandasena (26), D. K. Thuan (30), W. M. P. Bandara (27), D. M. Suraweera Bandara (21), W. M. Weerakoon (21), J. H. P. Adhikari (28), Y. S. Nayanakantha, A. Jayasuriya (31), K. H. Saleem (32), B. G. N. Jayathilake (26), W. H. Kularatne (30), M. K. Dayaratne (28). — (S.W) Jaffna
Mayor cremated The cremation of the late Mayor of Jaffna Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran took place among a large gathering of mourners from various political parties communities and religions at the Hindu Section of General Cemetery, Kanatte last evening. Earlier in the day President Chandrika Kumaratunga and later Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe paid their last respects to Mrs. Yogeswaran at A. F. Raymonds funeral parlour. Secretary General of the TULF R. Sampanthan who flew in from a visit to Madras on hearing of the assassination said before the cortege left the funeral parlour, "while we cannot achieve anything through the brutal murder of late Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran one cannot find a solution to the ethnic problem by waging war and went on to extol the rare qualities of late Mayor." The TULF in the absence of President Murugesu Sivasithamparam and ex-MP and Central Committee Member Mavai Senathirajah in Madras was represented by vice president Ananda Sangari, MPs Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, Joseph Pararajasingham, R. Selvarajah, K. Thurairajasingham, Jaffna organiser and Attorney-at-Law P. Sivapalan, TULF Colombo branch president S. Thiagaragah and Jaffna Municipal Councillors Chelliah Vijayaratnam Kandiah and Gowrisuthan among many other personalities.
There were also a gathering of Buddhist monks, Christian priests, Hindu Kurukkals and Moulavis who could not be identified individually. Among the gathering of representatives of Tamil political parties leader of TELO M. K. Sivajilingam, propaganda secretary and ex-North-East Provincial Minister Abu Yusuf CWC MP P. P. Devaraj, Arumugam Thondaman, Sennan, PLOTE leader Dharmalingam Siddharthan, EPDP's Dr. Vigneswaran, MPs Thangavelu, S. Sivadasan, EPRLF Keetheeswaran, etc were present. Sarvodaya leader Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Indian High Commission Secretary information R. Sachedeva, S. Manovanjan were also present. Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran had three brothers and sisters of whom an elder brother P. Rajasimhan lit the funeral pyre. COLOMBO, May 20 - Tamil politicians on Wednesday called upon armed groups to see reason and talk peace to end Sri Lanka’s ethnic war as mourners paid their last respects at the funeral of the slain mayor of Jaffna. Sarojini Yogeswaran was cremated with Hindu rites amongst tight security in the capital Colombo, three days after she was killed in the former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stronghold of northern Jaffna, party officials said. "People who have killed her have forgotten reasoning and sanity," R. Sambandan, a senior member of Yogeswaran’s Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), told the funeral ceremony. "The only way to bring peace to the country is for all armed groups to sit and have peace talks and come to a reasonable understanding," he added. Yogeswaran was killed at her residence in Jaffna on Sunday by LTTE gunmen, the government has said. The Sangilian Force has claimed responsibility for the killing in letters handed to newspapers in Jaffna. The LTTE have yet to comment on the killing. President Chandrika Kumaratunga expressed shock over the killing and called it a "contemptible act" carried out by those against democracy and peace. Yogeswaran became mayor after TULF won January’s local elections that were seen as a major step towards the return of civilian administration to Jaffna. Government troops captured the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE in 1996. The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in Sri Lanka’s north and east since 1983. The mayor’s husband Vettival Yoges-waran, who represented Jaffna in the national parliament from 1977 to 1983, was killed in Colombo in 1990 in an attack blamed on the LTTE. (Reuters) US Govt. condoles, urges LTTE to end terrorism The United States government while condoling with the family of former Jaffna Mayoress Sarojini Yogeswaran has urged the LTTE to cease all acts of terrorism. James P. Rubin spokesman for the United States government in a statement said. "The United States Government extends its condolences to the family of Mrs. Yogeswaran and the people of Jaffna for their loss. We strongly condemn this senseless act of violence. The desire of the people of Jaffna to live in peace, rebuild their lives and participate in democracy, as reflected in the January election in which Mrs. Yogeswaran was chosen as Jaffna's mayor, makes this new act of violence especially regrettable. We call upon Sri Lankans to reject this type of interference with the democratic process. Although a group calling itself the Sangilian Force has claimed responsibility for the mayor's assassination, we understand Sri Lankan officials view the LTTE as the primary suspect. We continue to urge the LTTE to cease all acts of terrorism. As we have in the past, we call for the LTTE to stop immediately the killing of non-combatants and live up to the commitments it recently made to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict Olara Otunnu to reconsider its strategy of targeting civilians. The United States continues to support a united and democratic Sri Lanka. We continue to advocate a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sri Lanka through negotiations among all parties. We believe the Sri Lankan Government's wide-ranging proposals for constitutional reform constitute a solid basis for a peaceful solution to this tragic conflict". Navy Chief of Staff lodges Rights
violation plea before SC Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral, Danapriya Kumarasiri Dassanayake, had complained to the Supreme Court in a Fundamental Rights Violation application, alleging that, he was retired form service on April 1, 1998, at the age of 47 years.
The petitioner had been the youngest and the only officer in the Navy to have been retired, at such an early age, as the Chief of Staff. He had been promoted to the post of chief of staff solely on merit. He acted for the Commander of the Navy on three occasions. The President had expressed confidence and faith in the petitioner to hold the post of Commander of the Navy in acting capacity. The petitioner had written to the President explaining his grievances. The communications were sent through the Commander of the Navy. The petitioner did not receive any acknowledgement. He believed that his letters were not submitted to President Kumara-tunga. The petition alleged unequal treatment, in violation of Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The petition requested the Supreme Court to declare Violation of Fundamental Rights and to declare the premature retirement order, null and void. The respondents cited are R. K. Chandrananda de Silva, Secretary Defence, Vice Admiral, H. C. A. C. Tissera, (Commander of the Navy), Rear Admiral W. Sandagiri, and the Attorney General. On May 18 the application was called before the Supreme Court and fixed for support on June 11. Mr. D. S. Wijesinghe, President's Counsel, with Mr. J. C. Weliamuna appeared for the petitioner. The bench comprised the Chief Justice G. P. S. de Silva and Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. Mr. K. Sripavan, Deputy Solicitor General appeared for the respondents. 21 fighters dead in pitched battles COLOMBO, May 20 — Government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels fought pitched battles on Wednesday in northern Sri Lanka that left at least 21 combatants dead, military officials said. Among the victims were five soldiers who were killed when the rebels attacked the army’s defence lines at Paranthan town in the northern Kilinochchi district early on Wednesday, officials said. They said the troops had repulsed the attack with artillery and mortars, killing at least 10 rebels. Twelve soldiers were also wounded in the attack some 300-km (187-miles) from the capital Colombo. In a separate clash, troops killed six rebels on Wednesday at Olumadu, a town on the northern highway the military has been trying to capture in a year-long campaign. Thousands of soldiers and rebels have been killed in the battle for the highway, which once captured would give the military road access to the northern Jaffna peninsula. On Wednesday, the government declared a one-day amnesty on May 24 for thousands of deserters who failed to respond to a similar offer earlier this month. Army commander Lieutenant General Rohan Daluwatte has said the military could accelerate the campaign if an estimated 15,000 deserters return. (Reuters) |
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