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LTTE calls halt to development till ISGA
By Frances Bulathsinghala
Tiger guerrillas are to call an immediate halt to all major development activity in the North-East until the proposed Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) is established. "With this in mind they have asked us to tell all foreign aid donors to suspend their aid programmes to the government until ISGA is established," TNA parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham told The Sunday Times. He said such a request had already been conveyed to the European Union. The request will be put forward to other donor countries as well in the coming weeks.

The LTTE, The Sunday Times learns, is to discus its ISGA proposals first when peace talks are resumed. The UPFA, it is learnt, has agreed to this in addition to placing on the agenda other matters relating to the peace process. According to Mr. Pararajasingham, the justification for such an appeal to the EU was that there was no guarantee that the aid channelled by the EU would be utilized for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-torn northeast as no institution is functioning in the northeast to ensure that such funds are properly utilized for the required purpose.

"The ISGA proposals are not the blueprint for separation. But if the chauvinistic forces of the South and within the UPFA insist on blocking the peace process, then the final outcome would be separation," said Joseph Pararajasingham who is known to be close to the LTTE.

He said no new framework had been suggested by President Kumaratunga so far. He said they hoped the situation would be clarified when Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Peterson held talks with the LTTE leadership in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the JVP, a major ally in the UPFA, has so far not spelt out its position regarding the invitation to the Norwegians or the peace process. But JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa also signed a statement issued by the National Patriotic Movement (NPM) calling on the government not to give in to LTTE's demand for an ISGA.

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