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Canada's PM to avoid visiting LTTE controlled Vanni region

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was taught another lesson in the international diplomacy when Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin yielded to international diplomatic pressure exerted by the Sri Lanka Government to announce that he will not visit the northern region of Sri Lanka controlled by the Tamil rebel outfit.

Even Velupillai Prabakaran, the leader of the Tamil rebel outfit up to date has failed to visit the tsunami devastated areas in the Vanni region, said to be a mystery.

But the Tamil rebel outfit insisted earlier that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan should visit the Vanni region to assess the disaster caused by the tidal wave.

For the second time, LTTE insisted that Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada to visit the Vanni region when he visits Sri Lanka.

Leaders of Tamil groups in Canada had called on Tuesday for Martin to visit hard-hit areas under control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam when he travels to Sri Lanka - a trip to tsunami-affected areas tacked on to a long-planned trip to Asia next week.

Despite strong pressure exerted by the Tamil groups, Martin said last night that he will not visit the Tamil-controlled area, instead confine his tour in Sri Lanka to the southeast, where Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is operating.

Asked why he will not visit the Tamil territory, Martin said: "There will be time for other visits," indicating that in the future, other government ministers might do so.

Ottawa, January 13 (www.Asiantribune.com)

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