Sri Lanka wants more time to resettle IDPs
March 23, 2010 07:21 am
“Don’t ask for a time frame. It will happen quickly. We have settled a large number of people in record time with about 1,000 leaving the makeshift camps on a daily basis. But we have to give people infrastructure and demine the areas. We can’t let people be blown up,” diplomatic sources said.
Sri Lankans of Tamil origin who went to Tamil Nadu can come back,
but would have to do so voluntarily.
‘No amnesty’
On the arrest and court-martial of the former army chief and presidential candidate Sarath Fonseca, the sources said he would have the opportunity to exonerate himself of the charges at the trial.
They ruled out the possibility of an amnesty because “this is a
process which can’t be wished away.” Besides,
There were many in
On the Parliamentary elections next month, the sources said
The country wanted to take time before beginning the process for devolution of powers and amending the Constitution in order to widely consult all stakeholders. “We would like to address two main points. Whatever set-up is decided should be generally acceptable to all sections of the population, and second, the change should be permanent,” the sources said.
‘Be considerate’
The sources said the country needed the support of India and Tamil Nadu to bridge the ethnic divide, but that they should be considerate and understanding because “we have our own ideas and concerns.”
They felt that the Sri Lankan diaspora, especially Tamils, should not be a drag on the healing process.
“None will return but they are theorising and giving the kind of
ideas that will not work in
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