Sri Lanka president sacks ministers; chaos says PM ( 2003-11-05 09:11) (Agencies)
Sri Lanka's president sacked three ministers on
Tuesday, suspended parliament and ordered troops to guard key installations,
infuriating the prime minister and sparking a crisis that threatens the peace
with Tamil rebels.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, on an official visit in Washington,
described the moves by arch-rival President Chandrika Kumaratunga as desperate
and irresponsible and said they could plunge the country into chaos and anarchy.
In this image made from television, Sri
Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga addresses the nation on Tuesday
Nov. 4, 2003 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
[AP]
The split has been building since Wickremesinghe's party won parliamentary
elections in late 2001, with Kumaratunga sharply critical of government efforts
to end the 20-year war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
The open conflict between the president and prime minister now threatens the
bid to end the war that has killed 64,000 people, diplomats said.
"This is bad, the focus on the peace process will be gone," said one Western
diplomat.
The sacking of the defense, interior and media ministers comes three days
after the Tigers unveiled power-sharing proposals, which the government said
were a basis for fresh peace talks early next year. The president says the
government is giving away too much in its efforts to win peace.
Announcing the dismissal of the ministers, the three most powerful in
Wickremesinghe's cabinet, the president's office said: "This step has been taken
after careful consideration, in order to prevent further deterioration of the
security situation in the country."
Wickremesinghe said he would not waver in the pursuit of peace.
"Your government will not be deviated from the mandate given it by the people
to pursue the path of peace, security and economic prosperity due to the
irresponsible and precipitous actions of the president aimed at plunging the
country into chaos and anarchy," said a statement issued by his office in
Colombo.
DELAY PROGRESS
"I pledge to you the people, your government will not allow this desperate
and irresponsible attempt to undermine the peace process and economic prosperity
of the people to succeed."
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesingh talks to the press before a luncheon meeting at the American
Enterprise Institute during his visit to Washington, Nov.4, 2003.
[Reuters]
A U.S. official said Wickremesinghe was expected to continue with his
schedule in Washington, including a meeting with U.S. President Bush at the
White House on Wednesday.
"We certainly hope that these political tensions do not delay progress on
peace talks...," the official said.
The pro-Tiger Tamilnet Web site said the president's actions had "dimmed"
prospects for peace, adding that the status of the cease-fire had become
uncertain.
Kumaratunga went on nationwide television to defend her actions and to reach
out to the Tigers.
"I remain willing to discuss with the LTTE a just and a balanced solution of
the national problem within the parameters of the unity, territorial integrity
and sovereignty of Sri Lanka," she said.
Kumaratunga also suspended parliament for two weeks. That will postpone the
announcement of next year's budget, which was to have been presented to the
legislature next week.
"Parliament has been prorogued as of 12 midnight yesterday to be resummoned
on November 19," Kumaratunga's spokesman Harim Peiris told reporters.
Central Bank Governor Amarananda Jayawardena told Reuters the budget was on
hold and would have to be passed after parliament resumed its session.
Sri Lankan army soldiers patrol on the
streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Nov.4, 2003. Sri Lankas government
was plunged into crisis and its peace process dealt a severe blow when the
president fired the defense minister, interior minister and media
minister, who have been working to coax Tamil rebels back into talks to
end a 20 years civil war. [AP]
Government ministers and top officials were huddled in a meeting, and
analysts said developments could snowball.
"We have to expect the government would respond in kind. They would have to
fight back, including even impeachment," said Jehan Perera of the independent
National Peace Council.
The military said a small number of troops were ordered out as a
precautionary measure. But there were no signs of unrest on the streets.
"We have deployed troops in a couple of key locations to prevent any
disturbances," army spokesman Sumedha Perera told Reuters, listing the
government press, state media and a power station among the locations.
EXECUTIVE POWERS
Kumaratunga is elected separately from the prime minister and parliament, and
has vast powers under the constitution.
She has sparred with Defense Minister Tilak Marapana, accusing him of
allowing the Tigers to use a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in place for 20
months to strengthen militarily.
The truce has mostly held, although the rebels have been accused of
violations and arms smuggling.
Kumaratunga also fired Interior Minister John Amaratunga, who controls the
police, and Mass Communications Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, who controls the
state-run media.
The Colombo Stock Exchange slipped less than one percent on Monday after the
LTTE proposals were released at the weekend, but political worries pushed it
down about five percent on Tuesday.
