Tamil Tigers to work with government to help tsunami victims

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Dec 31, IRNA -- Sri Lanka`s Tamil Tiger rebels appeared to 
be willing to join the government in relief work for tsunami victims 
as President Chandrika Kumarantunga said in Colombo that a war with 
them was `remoter` now. 
Reports said the rebel head of the political wing Thamilselvan had
indicated that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was willing
to consider working side by side with state agencies to help thousands
stranded in the Tsunami disaster. 
"We are seeking cooperation to take further humanitarian 
delivery," Thamilselvan was quoted as saying. 
The LTTE was invited, through Norwegian facilitators, to be a part
of the huge government effort to deliver aid to an estimated million 
people who were made refugees after Sunday`s Tsunami wave attack. 
Kumaratunga said renewed fighting with the Tamil Tigers was not 
likely with the rebels` main naval bases on the east coast taking 
direct hits from the tsunami. 
"The threat of war is remoter than on December 25 (the day before 
the tsunami) because the LTTE has suffered heavy casualties, if not 
anything else," she told reporter. 
According to media reports, casualty figures could rise to 29,000 
with most of the 4,500 missing people likely to be declared dead "in 
the next few days," Kumaratunga said, adding the cost of 
reconstruction over 800 kilometers of coastline would be about Sri 
Lankan Rupees 100 billion, a little less than a billion US dollars. 
Kumaratunga said huge amounts of foreign aid were coming in and 
helping to maintain a steady stream of food, drugs and clothing to the
displaced. 
"We are in complete control over the situation," she said, adding 
"There may be shortcomings, but all the displaced have been taken care
of." 
Admitting that government security forces had lost military 
hardware and weapons, she said rebel casualties were `very high`, 
although the Tigers have said it lost only five of its fighters. 
"The government servants in LTTE-controlled areas are already 
working closely with the LTTE and have told us the requirements in the
affected areas," the President said. 
"They have naturally taken into account what the LTTE wants, we 
have sent them everything they have asked for." 
Peace talks between the government and the LTTE have been stalled 
for 20 months. 
Several efforts by Norwegian and Japanese facilitators to get the 
peace process moving have ended in failure. 
Kumaratunga said she had shaken hands with at least two Tiger 
women cadres in the eastern town of Trincomalee and inquired after 
relief operations. 
/2326/2330/1432 
 Tue 2005-01-04 
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Tamil Tigers to work with government to help tsunami victims
