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Moves
to jump-start peace talks Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen is to raise this matter when he holds talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He will be accompanied by Special Envoy Erik Solheim and Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar. The need for written undertaking, The Sunday Times learns, is in view of moves to hold talks afresh after the UPFA was voted to power. Since the UPFA itself is a broad coalition, the Norwegian authorities, informed sources say, want to be certain that the UPFA’s policy objectives are clearly defined before facilitatory efforts begin. President Kumaratunga and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in Nuwara Eliya yesterday ahead of the Norwegian delegation arriving there for talks. Both
leaders are scheduled to meet the Norwegian delegtion there Meanwhile the LTTE is to set out to Norwegian facilitators tomorrow four general requirements it wants the UPFA Government to fulfil for the resumption of peace talks. The Sunday Times learns that they are (1) that the LTTE be recognized as sole representative of the Tamil people; (2) the LTTE be treated as equal partners in the negotiating process; (3) that negotiations be held only with the LTTE and (4) that the LTTE's proposals for an Interim Self Governing Authority be the sole basis for future negotiations. An LTTE source told The Sunday Times: "the first three requirements were acknowledged and accepted by the previous United National Front Government. Negotiations with it proceeded thereafter." "The need to have the proposals for an ISGA as the sole basis for discussion follows the results of April 2 Parliamentary General Elections. The Tamil speaking people of the North-East have unanimously endorsed this as the basis," the source added. Besides these four requirements, the source said the LTTE would also raise a number of other issues with Mr. Solheim and Mr. Brattskar. These will include the killing of seven LTTE cadres in Vavunathivu, (Batticaloa District) by a pro-Karuna group which allegedly operated with the assistance and support of the Sri Lankan Army. Another is the role of India and moves by the Government to go ahead with a Defence Co-operation Agreement even before a new Government has been elected in India. With regard to the LTTE's main requirement that it be recognized as the sole representative of the Tamil people, Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar has already declared in New Delhi that by implication the LTTE is in fact the sole representative of the Tamil people. The move has already sparked a controversy. In reaction, EPDP leader and Minister Douglas Devananda rejected yesterday any suggestion that the LTTE was the "sole representative of the Tamils" and said he would continue to campaign for other Tamil parties to be consulted in future peace talks. The EPDP leader told The Sunday Times his party's position was that any government could speak to the LTTE, but there should be consultations with other Tamil parties also. "Without the support of the other minority parties the government cannot find a permanent solution to the ethnic problem," Mr. Devananda stressed, adding that the UPFA manifesto clearly stated that other parties would be consulted in the peace process. Referring to demands by the LTTE that he must be stripped of his portfolio before any talks begin, Mr. Devananda said such a problem did not arise immediately. Meanwhile, the JVP is also reserving comment on Mr. Kadirgamar's statement and a spokesman said they would respond after consultations with the President. |
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