Paralysis in Sri Lanka, President clamps emergency ( 2003-11-06 09:20) (Agencies)
Sri Lankan President
Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a state of emergency Wednesday, giving herself
more powers in a bare-knuckled political fight with the prime minister that is
threatening the peace with Tamil rebels.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who at first warned of chaos and
anarchy, Wednesday tried to play down the crisis during an official visit to
Washington. He said he would "sort it out" when he returned home Friday.
Wickremesinghe was in Washington when Kumaratunga, who is elected separately,
fired the defense, interior and media ministers Tuesday and suspended
parliament.
The state of emergency, a draconian law that allows detention for up to one
year without charge, now widens Kumaratunga's powers and those of the military
and includes bans on public assembly.
Despite the political paralysis, a presidential adviser said Kumaratunga
would not end a 20-month truce with the Tamil Tigers, who seek a separate
homeland for minority Tamils.
Kumaratunga has openly disagreed with Wickremesinghe over the peace process,
saying the government was making too many concessions to the rebels.
"I am authorized by the president to tell you that the cease-fire agreement
stands and will stand. There is no question about that," Lakshman Kadirgamar
told reporters.
"The president has no intention of resuming or provoking the resumption of
hostilities."
Although a small number of troops were deployed at key installations in
Colombo, the capital was otherwise calm.
Kumaratunga's moves raised questions about the future of the prime minister
and the direction of the peace bid. But Wickremesinghe smiled and looked relaxed
as he talked to reporters in Washington after meeting President Bush.
"This is not the first crisis I have had. When I go back, I'll sort it out,"
he said.
"We have the majority in parliament and we're going to get the peace process
on track. ... I have a mandate to bring peace to the country."
The crisis erupted just days after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
released a proposal on power-sharing that the government said was a basis for
fresh talks.
Kumaratunga's party sharply criticized the proposals, but Kadirgamar said it
was the president's belief that the security situation was deteriorating that
led to her actions.
An LTTE spokesman in northern Sri Lanka said he had no comment on the
president's moves but denied rumors the main north-south highway that runs
through rebel-controlled territory had been closed.
But Kumaratunga's moves have already created unease among Tamils, who fear
arbitrary arrests and a return to war.
The 20-year civil war pits the Tamil rebels against a government dominated by
the majority Sinhalese community.
