The Society for the Protection of Unity, Peace and Human Rights of Sri Lanka (SPUR) writing to the leader of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera urged the JHU to act immediately to prevent the Japanese envoy, Yasushi Akashi promoting direct donor interactions with the LTTE.
Commenting on Akashi's meeting with Thamilchelvan and his pledge to obtain approval from the donor community to provide humanitarian relief to the people in the North and East prior to LTTE reaching a consensus with the government, SPUR alleged that Akashi is trying to appease the LTTE by offering direct aid on humanitarian basis while his move could harm the sovereignty of the country.
SPUR urged that the donor countries should not consider granting aid to LTTE while they continue to violate the ceasefire agreement, violate the UN resolution on recruitment of child soldiers and would be violating the UN security council resolution on suppressing the financial assistance on terrorism.
Meanwhile Ven. Medhananda Thera commenting on the request of the SPUR said that JHU is aware of the pressure deployed by donor countries on Sri Lanka to commence discussion with LTTE on ISGA proposals.
" We have repeatedly pointed that donor countries or agencies do not have the right to intrude into the internal matters of Sri Lanka," Ven. Thera said adding that it is absurd to except financial assistance granted to LTTE to be used for humanitarian purposes.
"If Mr. Akashi wants to increase the life situation of the people in North and East he should support them through the government of Sri Lanka," he said.
Ven. Medhananda Thera alleged that granting financial aid to LTTE for humanitarian purposes is an attempt to establish LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil people and compelling the government to accept ISGA as the basis for the recommencing of peace talks.
