Colombo, June 06: The United States today warned Tamil
Tiger rebels not to boycott a crucial International Donor
Conference aimed at reconstructing war-ravaged Sri Lanka,
saying it would send a "wrong signal" to the international
community.
The conference -- which opens Monday in Tokyo with
representatives from more than 30 countries and 20 financial
institutions -- could help the government and the rebels
solidify their 16-month peace process by helping to rebuild
the worst-hit areas of the country.
But the Tigers have said they would not participate in
the conference unless the government agrees to set up an
interim administration in the Tamil-majority northeast to give
the rebels authority to dispense the aid money.
"Its (Tamil Tigers) absence from these important
proceedings will represent a lost opportunity for the people
of Sri Lanka, particularly those in the north and east, whom
the Tigers claim to represent," Frederick Schieck, deputy
administrator of the US agency for international development,
told reporters.
"My government continues to hope that the LTTE will be
at the table," he said.
The Sri Lankan government has said the rebels would
still be given a say in the disbursement of aid funds even if
they boycott the conference.
Bureau Report
