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Interim council or nothing: LTTE
Hot on the heels of talks a fortnight ago in London between Minister Milinda Moragoda and LTTE's chief spokesman Anton Balasingham, comes the news from the Wanni that the LTTE is not prepared to discuss either the ceasefire agreement or 'core issues' (the overall picture) at proposed face-to-face talks scheduled in Thailand, but insists on discussing the interim administration for the North and East.

The LTTE has indicated that full implementation of the ceasefire agreement was necessary before talks begin in Thailand, hinting a further delay in talks originally expected to begin in May.

One of the main outstanding issues has been the return of the civilians to areas from where the troops have been withdrawn but still remain inaccessible as they are located within the High Security Zones. Of 47 schools from where the security forces had withdrawn in the Jaffna district 36 are located in the HSZs.

The LTTE's position was conveyed to the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians and other representatives who met guerrilla political Wing Leader S.P. Thamilchelvan last Saturday in Kilinochchi.

"At the proposed talks, the LTTE wants to directly open talks regarding the powers and functions of the interim administration and it does not want the ceasefire agreement to be an issue at the talks," EPRLF leader Suresh Premachandran who took part in the talks with the LTTE told The Sunday Times.

"The core issue regarding the conflict will be discussed later on. It will first be about the setting up of the interim administration for the north and east," he said.

The Sunday Times reported last week that in London, Dr. Balasingham had also urged that the interim administration be discussed first, but that Mr. Moragoda had explained the Sri Lanka Government's position stating that "core issues", including the interim administration must be placed on the table first.

Dr. Balasingham said he would convey this decision to LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

TNA Parliamentarian, Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam confirmed that the LTTE did not want to bring up the issue about implementation of the ceasefire agreement at the talks adding that "the LTTE's and our position will be that when the face-to-face talks begin all matters related to the ceasefire should be settled".

He said that regarding the implementation of the ceasefire, one of the issues discussed was that civilians should be allowed to return to their places in the high security zones and there should be a structured programme for this.

Despite comments made by Mr. Thamilchelvan earlier that they would not look forward for 100 per cent implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the latest indication has been that all matters related to the Government-LTTE agreement should be resolved before face-to-face talks begin in Thailand. Meanwhile Norway's Ambassador Jon Westborg and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission chief Trond Furuhovde have flown to Oslo to be present at the talks between LTTE's Chief negotiator Balasingham and Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen.

Dr. Balasingham had left for Oslo on Friday from London. He was quoted in the Tamil Guardian published in London that he was expected to meet LTTE chief in Sri Lanka only in September to discuss matters related to the peace process.

"The details (of the visit) have not been finalized, But I expect to discuss our strategies with Mr. Pirapaharan (Prabhakaran) at about that time," he was quoted as saying.

Responding to a question about the political scene in Colombo Dr. Balasingham had said the LTTE was observing developments closely, noting that 'given (President) Kumaratunga's opposition to a negotiated solution with the LTTE, the stability of the government has a direct bearing on the Norwegian peace initiative'.

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