Lanka forces offer phased withdrawal

Sri Lankan security forces have offered a phased withdrawal from parts of the High Security Zone in the northern Jaffna peninsula for civilian re-settlement if the Tamil guerrillas agree to disarm, withdraws artillery units and mortars and allow police full powers to operate in these areas, a local newspaper said.

The Sunday Times newspaper said that these proposals have been made to the guerrillas of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) by Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Major General Sarath Fonseka.

The document containing the proposals was handed over on Saturday in Colombo to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Chief Trond Furhovde for onward transmission to LTTE's "northern commander, Colonel Theepan."

At the second meeting of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalisation (SDN) held at Muhamalai (Jaffna peninsula) on December 14, it was agreed that Maj. Gen. Fonseka would deliver the proposals.

According to a Norwegian Embassy announcement, the proposals will be discussed during a meeting between Maj. Gen. Fonseka and "Colonel" Theepan. Jon Westborg, the Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, was out of the country.

The Sunday Times reported that Fonseka said his security forces could initially vacate two areas in the High Security Zone - one near Keerimalai, a coastal area on the western outskirts of the Security Forces Headquarters in Palaly and the other near Thanankilappu - Ariyalai sector, south west of the Jaffna town.

However, for security forces to give up this area, Fonseka feels there should be an assurance the LTTE would ensure its members are disarmed and its artillery and mortars withdrawn, the newspaper said.

He also feels that the police who will take over law and order functions in the areas that the security forces will vacate, should have the full powers to search houses for weapons and other items, the paper said.

Earlier the Norwegian Embassy in a statement said that the proposals will be taken up for discussion at the next meeting due to be held on January 20.

The Sunday Times yesterday said that response of the LTTE to the proposals will be known only in the coming few weeks. The LTTE's political wing secretary, S.P.Thamil Chelvam has already gone on record as saying that future talks would be futile, if the government does not direct the security forces to withdraw from the high security zones.

Chelvam and other LTTE members have given the impression that the issue of the withdrawal from the high security zones may have a bearing on the next peace talks.