|
 President
Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government has derailed plans by U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan to tour tsunami-ravaged areas controlled by the LTTE. This was
reported by
Reuter’s correspondent in Hambantota.
A visibly agitated and frustrated Kofi Annan was quoted as saying: "I am here
on a humanitarian mission. I would like to visit all the areas, but as you know
I am here as a guest of the government and they set the itinerary". UN
officials told Reuters that they had been striving to convince the
government, but to no avail. "It is a relief visit, not a political one. The
secretary general wanted to go, but it just didn't happen," said one
official on condition of anonymity to Reuters.
The reason for the refusal is purported to be on grounds of security, but more
precisely for the reason that territorial integrity of Sri Lanka will be
violated if Kofi Annan is permitted to visit areas not under the control of the
Sri Lankan state.
The myopic and obstructionist policies of President Chandrika Kumaratunga have
further exacerbated animosity and mistrust between her and the LTTE. Apparently
President Kumaratunga placed politics before humanitarian relief.
In a feeble and belated attempt, the Sri Lankan government has rejected media
speculation that it limited the itinerary of United Nations Secretary General
Kofi Annan. It is claming that it offered access and air transport facilities to
any member of the Secretary General's delegation to visit any part of the
country including Mullaitivu.
But the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry which drew Kofi Anna’s itinerary apparently
left out Mullaitheevu not by accident but by design. Otherwise there is no
reason for Kofi Annan’s claim that “I am here as a guest of the government and
they set the itinerary.” Given the penchant for the Sri Lankan government
penchant for lying we tend to believe Kofi Annan than the former.
TIS invite comments from its viewers as to whom to belief and whom not to.
10-01-2005 |
