Sri Lanka President suspends Parliment

[bigpoppanils]

Sri Lanka President Suspends Parliament, Takes Charge (Update9)

Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a foe of peace concessions to the Tamil Tigers, seized control of the government, suspending parliament and sending troops to major facilities in the South Asian nation.

Kumaratunga, who shares power with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, also fired three ministers involved in the talks. The White House said Wickremesinghe was still set to brief President George W. Bush tomorrow in Washington on the negotiations with the Tigers.

The developments could rekindle the two-decade conflict that has claimed more than 60,000 lives on the island nation off India's southern tip, and set back an economy powered by tourism and exports of garments and tea. The Tamil Tigers last week submitted a list of demands, including administrative control of parts of the island.

``This means Chandrika is going to take over the army and the navy and the Sri Lankan air force,'' Daya Master, spokesman for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, said in a telephone interview from Killinochi in the north of the island. ``This will affect the peace process.''

In televised remarks to the nation late today, Kumaratunga said she was still willing to discuss with the rebels ``a just and balanced solution of the national problem,'' and she appealed for calm, according to Agence France-Presse. ``I will not tolerate revenge and lawlessness from whatever quarter it may come,'' she added.

Security at Issue

Kumaratunga heads the People's Alliance, the principal opposition to Wickremesinghe's United National Party government. She has previously accused the government of ignoring national security in its attempt to forge a peace with the Tigers.

From Washington, Wickremesinghe issued an appeal for public support and said his mandate to govern stands.

The ``government will not be deviated from the mandate given it by the people to pursue the path of peace, security and economic prosperity,'' he said.

Kumaratunga suspended Parliament for two weeks, scuttling the annual budget that was to be announced on Nov. 12. Defense Minister Tilak Marapana, Interior Minister John Amaratunga and Information Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar were dismissed to ``stop further deterioration in national security,'' presidential spokesman Janadasa Peiris told Bloomberg News.

Wickremesinghe said Kumaratunga's ``irresponsible and precipitous actions'' were aimed at ``plunging the country into chaos and anarchy.''

Installations Guarded

Hours after firing the three ministers, Kumaratunga ordered troops to guard important installations, including the government's radio station, said Sarath Amunugama, spokesman for People's Alliance.

``We're obviously concerned about all this,'' said Bruce Lohof, head of public affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo. The U.S. State Department and the White House are ``taking this seriously,'' Lohof said.

The U.K. government is investigating if the political situation in Sri Lanka warrants a travel advisory, said Paula Peacock, duty officer at the British High Commission in Colombo.

``We have people verifying what's happening,'' Peacock said. ``What she has done is legal and in her constitutional powers to do so, it's not like she has attempted a coup.''

Peace negotiations must stay on course to sustain economic growth. Sri Lanka's $16 billion economy expanded 5.5 percent in the second quarter. The 21-month-old cease-fire has drawn tourists to resorts run by companies such as John Keells Holdings Ltd., while interest-rate cuts have boosted domestic spending.

Consensus at Risk

``The two critical challenges facing the country -- ending the conflict and reforming the economy -- can best be addressed in a climate of consensus and stability,'' said John Cooney, country director for Sri Lanka at the Asian Development Bank. ``Today's events may impact on both.''

The bank said in September it pledged $700 million in loans and grants to Sri Lanka during the next three years. That plan ``still stands,'' Cooney said.

Before the announcement, the Colombo All Share index fell 70.60, or 5.29 percent, to 1334.50 at the 12:30 p.m. close in the capital Colombo, according to the exchange's Web site.

Shares in John Keells, the island's largest non-state company by sales, fell 6.5 rupees, or 4.5 percent, to 139 rupees.

Kumaratunga failed in her 1994 attempt to negotiate a peace accord with the Tamil Tigers, who say the island's majority Sinhalese population discriminates against them. The Tigers broke off the talks in 1995 and returned to war.

In 1999, Kumaratunga lost an eye in an assassination attempt. In 2001, her party lost control of parliament after the Tigers attacked the country's only international airport and the economy had its worst slump in five decades.

May Benefit Rebels

``Chandrika's action plays into the LTTE's hands,'' said Narayan Swamy, author of two books on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, including a recent biography of the group's leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran. ``The Tigers can say: if the president is going to react over the submission of proposals, how can the state ever be expected to give anything to Tamils?''

Three months after coming to power in December 2001, Wickremesinghe signed a cease-fire with the Tamil Tigers. Six rounds of peace talks have taken place since then. Earlier this year, Kumaratunga complained that Wickremesinghe wasn't briefing her in detail on the negotiations.

Wickremesinghe may respond to the president's move by initiating impeachment proceedings against her, or by obtaining a parliamentary ruling opposing her decision, said Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director at the Center for Policy Alternatives in Colombo.

``They would have to work fast to do that because she can now suspend parliament for a period of 30 days in order to stop this from taking place,'' Saravanamuttu said. ``This is a political crisis. The peace process could be hit.''

Last Updated: November 4, 2003 11:56 EST

[kramadas]

Thats some crazy shit...especially when this whole mess seemed to have a real chance of sorting itself out after 20 years of relentless fighting.

On a side note, funny how the LTTE was referred to here as "rebels" and not terrorists (though they haven't carried out attacks against civilians in a long while).

These guys were the original suicide bombers, though not as indiscriminate in its targets as Al Queda or Pal terrorists. These guys were a terribly effective force in fighting the Sri Lankan army.

[deepak1977]

Originally posted by raver_mania

Thats some crazy shit...especially when this whole mess seemed to have a real chance of sorting itself out after 20 years of relentless fighting.

On a side note, funny how the LTTE was referred to here as "rebels" and not terrorists (though they haven't carried out attacks against civilians in a long while).

These guys were the original suicide bombers, though not as indiscriminate in its targets as Al Queda or Pal terrorists. These guys were a terribly effective force in fighting the Sri Lankan army.

just a note, the LTTE has carried out MORE suicide bombings than hamas has carried out in the two intifadas. also the LTTE was responsible for destroying the world trade center(the one in sri lanka) and killing former indian prime minister rajiv gandhi. ever tiger is required to wear a cianide capsule around their neck, incase they are captured. even their leader, vellupillai prabahkaran wears one.

however, keep in mind during the 1980's india sent in "peace keeping" soldiers into sri lanka. the suicide bomber that actually killed gandhi was raped by indian soldiers. infact most of the "black tigers" were girls that were raped by indian and/or sri lankan soldiers or were guys who's female relatives were raped.

the tamil-sinhala divide has it's roots in colonialism. the british kept the tamils in the farms, while favoring the sinhalas.