12-02-2004, 07:00 PM
S.Lanka shuts rebel border amid violence fears
02 Dec 2004 13:13:15 GMT
Source: Reuters
COLOMBO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's army closed off entry points to areas controlled by Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday for the first day since a 2002 ceasefire after Red Cross officials said they feared for their safety amid sporadic violence.
The surprise move left up to 25,000 people stranded at a border separating government-controlled areas from land held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Pro-rebel protesters burned tyres along the Indian Ocean island's main north-south highway.
Tensions are running high between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils in the north and east after the rebel group paid annual homage to fallen comrades at the weekend. Police have imposed curfews in the restive east.
Protesters angry at being prevented from hoisting rebel flags by the army during last week's celebrations brought two northern towns to a standstill on Thursday and police reinforced patrols in government-run areas.
"Because of the unsettled situation that prevailed in the morning, and since no one can guarantee our safety, we decided to stay away," said Sukumar Rockwood, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Under the terms of the two-year-old ceasefire, which halted the Tigers' two-decade war for autonomy in which at least 64,000 people have been killed, Red Cross officials must be present for border crossings to be open.
Army officials said they expected the crossings, which are usually open during the day and closed at night, to reopen on Friday.
Stoking tensions, reclusive Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on Saturday threatened to restart the war unless the government agreed to discuss their demands for self-rule soon.
Political analysts played down the border closure, but said it showed relations across the ethnic divide were straining.
"What can be seen is the continuous deterioration in the ground situation and in the discourse between the two sides and the language they are using," said Jehan Perera, a political analyst with the non-governmental National Peace Council in Colombo.
In a strongly worded annual address to remember the rebels' war dead, Prabhakaran said on Saturday the Tigers had reached the limit of their patience and accused the coalition government's Marxist ally of blocking the peace process.
The ceasefire is holding but peace talks stalled last year, leaving the process in limbo.
Diplomats and analysts say neither side wants to return to war and that the impasse will likely stretch on for months. (Additional reporting by Arjuna Wickramsinghe)
02 Dec 2004 13:13:15 GMT
Source: Reuters
COLOMBO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's army closed off entry points to areas controlled by Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday for the first day since a 2002 ceasefire after Red Cross officials said they feared for their safety amid sporadic violence.
The surprise move left up to 25,000 people stranded at a border separating government-controlled areas from land held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Pro-rebel protesters burned tyres along the Indian Ocean island's main north-south highway.
Tensions are running high between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils in the north and east after the rebel group paid annual homage to fallen comrades at the weekend. Police have imposed curfews in the restive east.
Protesters angry at being prevented from hoisting rebel flags by the army during last week's celebrations brought two northern towns to a standstill on Thursday and police reinforced patrols in government-run areas.
"Because of the unsettled situation that prevailed in the morning, and since no one can guarantee our safety, we decided to stay away," said Sukumar Rockwood, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Under the terms of the two-year-old ceasefire, which halted the Tigers' two-decade war for autonomy in which at least 64,000 people have been killed, Red Cross officials must be present for border crossings to be open.
Army officials said they expected the crossings, which are usually open during the day and closed at night, to reopen on Friday.
Stoking tensions, reclusive Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on Saturday threatened to restart the war unless the government agreed to discuss their demands for self-rule soon.
Political analysts played down the border closure, but said it showed relations across the ethnic divide were straining.
"What can be seen is the continuous deterioration in the ground situation and in the discourse between the two sides and the language they are using," said Jehan Perera, a political analyst with the non-governmental National Peace Council in Colombo.
In a strongly worded annual address to remember the rebels' war dead, Prabhakaran said on Saturday the Tigers had reached the limit of their patience and accused the coalition government's Marxist ally of blocking the peace process.
The ceasefire is holding but peace talks stalled last year, leaving the process in limbo.
Diplomats and analysts say neither side wants to return to war and that the impasse will likely stretch on for months. (Additional reporting by Arjuna Wickramsinghe)