Home / International / International -- World Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Sri Lankan Gov't, Rebels Agree on Demilitarized Zone
Adjust font size:

The Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers have agreed to declare a demilitarized zone around a much revered Catholic church in the island's north, a religious leader said Thursday.

Bishop Rayapu Joseph, the Bishop of Mannar, said that the Madu Church in Mannar would be declared a non-fighting zone from early July to mid-August.

The annual church mass and festival which draws a large number of Catholic devotees from all parts of the island begins on July 2and ends on Aug. 15.

Bishop Joseph said that after the talks between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels, he obtained the consent of both sides for the arrangement.
 
"It is a relief that both sides agreed to facilitate the Madu festival," Bishop Joseph said.

Mannar, some 280 km north of the capital Colombo, is under LTTE control and there have been heavy fighting in the area during the last two months.

Fighting escalated between the two sides since the end of 2005 and the violence so far has cost nearly 5,000 lives.

Claiming discrimination at the hands of the Sinhalese-dominated government, the LTTE has been fighting for an independent homeland for the minority Tamils in the north and east since the 1970s.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Related Stories
Fighting Kills More than 20 in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Navy, Rebels Clash in North
Sri Lankan Air Force Bombs Rebel Targets
Sri Lankan Air Force Base Under Air Raids
Sri Lankan President Reshuffles Cabinet
Sri Lankan Army Recaptures Rebel Held Town
Sri Lanka Air Force Raids Rebel Positions
Sri Lanka Nationalists Demand Banning of Tigers
> Korean Nuclear Talks
> Middle East Peace Process
> Iran Nuclear Issue
> Reconstruction of Iraq
> 6th SCO Summit Meeting
Links
- China Development Gateway
- Foreign Ministry
- Network of East Asian Think-Tanks
- China-EU Association
- China-Africa Business Council
- China Foreign Affairs University
- University of International Relations
- Institute of World Economics & Politics
- Institute of Russian, East European & Central Asian Studies
- Institute of West Asian & African Studies
- Institute of Latin American Studies
- Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
- Institute of Japanese Studies
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback
SEARCH THIS SITE
Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved     E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号