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An LTTE Provincial Administrative Council
But no police, security, land and revenue in Govt.’s latest proposals
By Iqbal AthasThe UNF Government has offered the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) a Provincial Administrative Council with majority membership and full powers to make policy.

Other nominees will be from the Government, the People's Alliance and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. This is the major highlight of a "Discussion Document" forwarded to the LTTE this week. It was taken to the Wanni last Thursday by Norway's Special Envoy Jon Westborg.

The four page document, the Government says, sets out a "framework for establishing a provincial administrative arrangement which will enable the LTTE to participate significantly in decision making and delivery related to administration, and rebuilding of the war damaged infrastructure and economy in the Northern and Eastern Provinces."

The LTTE is yet to respond officially to the proposals. A source close to the LTTE told The Sunday Times the proposals will be studied by its recently set up team of legal experts before a formal response is made known. However, initial indications are that they will respond favourably and return to the negotiating table, the source said.

The proposed Administrative Council is to be conferred with wide powers. It is proposed that the powers and functions of the Council will extend to:

(1) Adequate arrangements to enable the Council to participate effectively in the exercise and performance of such powers and functions as are at present being exercised and performed by the Government in respect of regional administration - except the area of police and security, land and revenue - but including rehabilitation, reconstruction and re-settlement.

(2) The participation mentioned above shall include policy making, implementation and monitoring.

(3) The detailed modalities to give effect to the above shall be subject for discussion between the parties.

According to a UNF source, the new proposals are "modelled on the lines of the Bangalore Declaration" where late President J.R. Jayewardene offered an Interim Council to the LTTE. However, this was in return for a proposal which required the decommissioning of guerrilla weapons.

The "Discussion Document" does not specify who will appoint the proposed Provincial Administrative Council. It is likely that the UNF will introduce legislation in Parliament where such an appointment may be made by the Prime Minister and endorsed by the Cabinet. It also does not provide any role for any other Tamil political party except the LTTE. (See Situation Report by Iqbal Athas for full text of the Discussion Document and a related report.)

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