His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse Esq.,

President of Sri Lanka.

c/o Sri Lankan High Commissioner,

Sri Lankan High Commission,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.                                                                                                                                 BY HAND

Your Excellency,

Sri Lankan Government and Military Should Stop Violating Ceasefire Agreement & Stop Warring To Return to Genuine Peace Talks.

We view with the deepest concern and sadness that the Ceasefire Agreement of 2002 between the Sri Lanka Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been repeatedly and increasingly violated by the Sri Lankan Military in recent days and weeks, resulting in the wanton killings of civilians, particularly in Tamil areas, and widespread destruction of socio-economic infrastructure.

2. The execution-style killings of 17 Tamils who were the staff members of international aid organization Action Contre Ia Faim (Action Against Hunger) two days ago in Muttur in the northeastern part of the country is a glaring and shocking case in point. As Reuters news agency has reported, diplomats do not believe the Sri Lanka Government’s highly irresponsible accusation that the Tigers were responsible for this atrocity. As Reuters has pointed out succinctly, “Hardliners have often accused aid agencies of favoring the ethnic Tamil minority and of backing the rebels.” It is thus clear that only the Sri Lanka military and Sinhalese political hardliners like the JVP and JHU could have been responsible for this crime against Humanity.

3. It is a well-known fact that since the Norwegian-brokered ceasefire agreement of 2002, the Sri Lankan government and military have been putting all manner of obstacles and delaying tactics in the path of the peace process. The LTTE’s proposal for the de-escalation of the Jaffna High Security Zones (HSZs) was blocked by the Sri Lanka establishment. More and more government promise was not implemented. Despite this, the LTTE submitted its proposal for an Interim Self-Governing Authority for the North-East (ISGA).

4. Meanwhile, President Chandrika Kumaratunga (from the people’s Alliance) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremessinghe (from the United National Party) continued to play party politics rather than resolve the peace process issue. On November 4, 2004, the President took over the Defence portfolio and the Prime Minister said he no longer had control over the peace process.

5. When the December 2004 tsunami struck, the tragedy presented Sri Lanka a golden opportunity – like Aceh in Indonesia – to achieve lasting peace with justice. Alas, the Sri Lankan government continued to play politics, even with the distribution of donated tsunami aid from all over the world, with aid distribution of Tamil affected areas being sharply discriminated against. On June 24, 2005, the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE signed a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (PTOMS) agreement. However, thanks to the destructive and inhumane efforts of some Sinhalese chauvinists, the issue was taken to the Supreme Court which, on July 15 stayed its implementation. Could there be an act more cruel and stupid towards innocent victims of the tsunami- including women, children and the sick and elderly and the unemployed and destitute?

Imagine the utter frustration of the neglected and utterly discriminated Tamil tsunami victims, when even tsunami aid was politicized:

6. When you won the presidential election on November 17, 2005, you failed to give hope to the peace process except to carry on as usual, which was fatal, for by doing so the many violations of the ceasefire but were multiplied.

7. The European Union (EU) on May 30, 2006 listed the LTTE as a “terrorist organization” but went on sending its people to be part of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)” This was not only ridiculous and highly hypocritical of the EU. Its stance was full of Contradictions, and it too had descended to play petty politics.

8. It is clear from the above that ceasefire violations by the Sri Lanka government and military, the unreality chauvinism of Sinhalese and certain Buddhist elements and politicians, and the increasing political contradictions and insincerity of the Sri Lanka establishment and some international interlopers have led to the current dangerous situation.

9. We urge you to exercise your leadership and statesmanship immediately to stop the government and military from further violations of the ceasefire agreement, and return to the negotiating table immediately to discuss how to achieve genuine and enduring peace with justice for all parties and communities concerned in Sri Lanka. Any other way is the path of death, destruction and perdition. Peace with justice is the only way.

Thank you.

 Your faithfully,

 ………………….                        ………………………..                       …………………..

 Mr.Lim Guan Eng,                         Hon’ble M. Kula Segaran,                     Mr.A.Sivenesan     

 Secretary-General,                         Vice Chairman DAP,                             Central Executive Council       

 DAP                                              Member of Parliament                           Member  -   DAP