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“In the current context of the peace process, President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s attention is particularly focused on the issue of human rights in the Northern and especially in the Eastern Province, where after the ceasefire there has been a deterioration in the rights of ordinary people and civilians living mainly in the government controlled areas,” Presidential Spokesman, Harim Peiris said yesterday. He mentioned that specific issues such as the forced recruitment of children and extortion are receiving her “utmost attention”. “With regard to child soldiers, it is quite unacceptable to say that the minor has given consent to be a part of an armed troop. Therefore there should not be absolutely any minors bearing arms,” He said expressing the views of the President. Mr. Peiris once again reiterated the “complete commitment” of the President to the peace process. “Her total commitment is one that comes from the fact that she was the first national leader to take the issue of redressing minority rights throughout Sri Lanka, particularly to the heartlands of the Sinhala South,” he added. Responding to a journalist’s query regarding the President’s views on the ‘Government considering the lifting of the ban on the LTTE’, he said that the President believes that there should be a “definite and verifiable timeframe between talks and the lifting of the ban”. If the ban should be a temporary suspension, then the timing of it, the human rights issues of civilians particularly in Government held areas, and the consideration of placing another human rights agreement prior to the lifting of the ban should also be considered, he said. “What we would require not only with regard to the ban but also with regard to all the issues we have been talking about is that the Government negotiates seriously with the LTTE,” he concluded.
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