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Be Good, CBK tells the 'Boys'
Promise to be good boys - and you will be released by the Navy is what President Chandrika Kumaratunga has ordered this week.

In a startling order from the Commander-in-Chief, in the wake of a serious violation of the ceasfire agreement by the LTTE, President Kumaratunga has issued fresh orders saying "LTTE cadres maybe released after obtaining from them a written agreement that they will not engage in such activities in the future".

The practice so far - even though hardly used - is for LTTE cadres violating the law of the land to be produced before a magistrate. In effect, President Kumaratunga is now whittling that down and allowing the LTTE cadres to be discharged without being taken before a magistrate. Presidential spokesman Harim Peiris said that "in view of the ongoing efforts at negotiations between the government and the LTTE, the LTTE cadres may be released after obtaining from them a written agreement that they will not engage in such activities in the future"

"In the past when the Navy had intercepted LTTE boats they were released along with the boats and the weapons without any action being taken. It is in this context that the President made the proposal. We also feel that such violations only weaken the peace process," Mr. Peiris said.

President Kumaratunga had also proposed that all weapons/ammunition and military sensitive equipment together with their boats should be taken into custody - but release the cadres after getting a promissory note.

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