01-09-2005, 12:23 PM
Tigers' fury at Annan travel ban
Kofi Annan only visited tsunami-hit areas in southern Sri Lanka
[b]A Tamil rebel leader in Sri Lanka has warned that the government's travel restrictions on UN head Kofi Annan may have negative consequences for peace.
SP Thamilselvan, head of the Tamil Tigers' political wing, condemned the ban on the secretary general's planned tour of rebel-held tsunami-hit areas.
[b]Mr Annan said he hoped to return "some day" to visit the rebel-controlled areas of the island.
More than 30,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka by the tsunami two weeks ago.
'Confidence'
"I'm hoping to come back and be able to visit all areas of the country, not only those repaired, but also to celebrate peace," Mr Annan said after his trip to the country, which lasted less than 48 hours.
"It's a difficult situation but I think if the whole nation comes together and works on the relief stage as well as reconstruction, it will instil enough confidence in each other to work on a peace process."
Tensions between the rebels and the government have been threatening to overshadow the aid effort.
In total, more than 150,000 lives were claimed across the Indian Ocean, and millions more were affected by the disaster.
But the UN now says it is optimistic that none of the survivors will lose their lives to hunger, as a result of a massive aid operation.
Jim Morris, head of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), told the BBC that aid had reached "nearly everyone (across the affected area) who has been harmed by the disaster".
Mr Annan has been touring the worst-hit areas, and is due to visit the Maldives on Sunday.
The Tamil people have faced disappointments and shocking things throughout their history
SP Thamilselvan, Tamil leader
UK Tamils' anger
On Friday, the Tigers said Mr Annan had accepted an invitation to visit their leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, during his visit to Sri Lanka.
But he was prevented from doing so by the Sri Lankan government, even though Mr Annan was keen to go.
"I would like to visit all the areas," he had said.
'Discriminatory'
Mr Thamilselvan, in effect the Tigers' deputy leader, told the BBC it was shocking that the government would prevail upon Mr Annan not to visit rebel areas, against his wishes.
He said it reminded him of the days of war when the government would prevent journalists and dignitaries from visiting.
Mr Annan was the latest high-profile visitor to witness the devastation
"This is a clear indicator of the discriminatory pattern that the government of Sri Lanka adopts when it comes to the problems of the Tamil people," he said.
"The Tamil people have faced disappointments and shocking things throughout their history, but this is the most disappointing out of all the disappointments."
Earlier, a Tamil commander told the BBC that the devastation caused by the tsunami in northern Sri Lanka was far worse than from 20 years of civil war.
Commander Soosai, who heads the Tigers' naval wing, appealed to the government to put aside politics and help the victims, saying relocating people from coastal areas was a major problem that required outside help.
The Tigers have complained that little aid has been sent to north-eastern areas of the country they control - claims denied by the government.
They have also warned of serious consequences if government soldiers are not withdrawn from welfare camps accommodating Tamil civilians.
Source: BBC
Kofi Annan only visited tsunami-hit areas in southern Sri Lanka
[b]A Tamil rebel leader in Sri Lanka has warned that the government's travel restrictions on UN head Kofi Annan may have negative consequences for peace.
SP Thamilselvan, head of the Tamil Tigers' political wing, condemned the ban on the secretary general's planned tour of rebel-held tsunami-hit areas.
[b]Mr Annan said he hoped to return "some day" to visit the rebel-controlled areas of the island.
More than 30,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka by the tsunami two weeks ago.
'Confidence'
"I'm hoping to come back and be able to visit all areas of the country, not only those repaired, but also to celebrate peace," Mr Annan said after his trip to the country, which lasted less than 48 hours.
"It's a difficult situation but I think if the whole nation comes together and works on the relief stage as well as reconstruction, it will instil enough confidence in each other to work on a peace process."
Tensions between the rebels and the government have been threatening to overshadow the aid effort.
In total, more than 150,000 lives were claimed across the Indian Ocean, and millions more were affected by the disaster.
But the UN now says it is optimistic that none of the survivors will lose their lives to hunger, as a result of a massive aid operation.
Jim Morris, head of the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), told the BBC that aid had reached "nearly everyone (across the affected area) who has been harmed by the disaster".
Mr Annan has been touring the worst-hit areas, and is due to visit the Maldives on Sunday.
The Tamil people have faced disappointments and shocking things throughout their history
SP Thamilselvan, Tamil leader
UK Tamils' anger
On Friday, the Tigers said Mr Annan had accepted an invitation to visit their leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, during his visit to Sri Lanka.
But he was prevented from doing so by the Sri Lankan government, even though Mr Annan was keen to go.
"I would like to visit all the areas," he had said.
'Discriminatory'
Mr Thamilselvan, in effect the Tigers' deputy leader, told the BBC it was shocking that the government would prevail upon Mr Annan not to visit rebel areas, against his wishes.
He said it reminded him of the days of war when the government would prevent journalists and dignitaries from visiting.
Mr Annan was the latest high-profile visitor to witness the devastation
"This is a clear indicator of the discriminatory pattern that the government of Sri Lanka adopts when it comes to the problems of the Tamil people," he said.
"The Tamil people have faced disappointments and shocking things throughout their history, but this is the most disappointing out of all the disappointments."
Earlier, a Tamil commander told the BBC that the devastation caused by the tsunami in northern Sri Lanka was far worse than from 20 years of civil war.
Commander Soosai, who heads the Tigers' naval wing, appealed to the government to put aside politics and help the victims, saying relocating people from coastal areas was a major problem that required outside help.
The Tigers have complained that little aid has been sent to north-eastern areas of the country they control - claims denied by the government.
They have also warned of serious consequences if government soldiers are not withdrawn from welfare camps accommodating Tamil civilians.
Source: BBC