Situation Report

Conveying UPFA's willingness to talk on ISGA. Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgeson and Ambassador Hans Brattskar with LTTE's Anton Balasingham and S.P. Tamilselvan. Tamilnet

Progress on peace moves amid security concerns
Retired Norwegian Major General Trond Furuhovde last Tuesday received a signed pledge from Government and Tiger guerrilla representatives in the Batticaloa district.

They jointly declared they would "develop mechanisms to ensure information sharing and quick reaction procedures to apprehend individuals perpetrating serious crimes." This was to "avoid future killings" and "improve investigation co-operation between the two parties."

The pledge was signed by those from the Army, Police, Special Task Force (STF) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after a meeting to "develop procedures to apprehend criminals" and was held at the Divisional Secretariat in the eastern capital. It came just a day (last Monday) after the SLMM warned that killings of guerrilla cadres and members of the armed forces represented "a serious threat to the ceasefire and to the peace process."

A few hours later that Tuesday night, a lone youth knocked at the door of the house of 23 year old Kovilan alias Gopi at Soruwila in Manampitiya near Polonnaruwa. He opened the door. Gopi and a friend greeted the visitor. He pulled out a 9 mm pistol, first fired at the friend and later at Gopi. Both dropped dead.

It turned out that the friend from Kiran in Batticaloa was Krishnapillai Packiyaraja (27), a fighting cadre of the Karuna faction of the LTTE. After Karuna's defeat, he had sought shelter with Gopi and was making plans to go abroad. Cadres loyal to the Wanni leadership tracked him down and killed him. Gopi was shot dead to warn others not to harbour fleeing members of the Karuna faction.

At Radha Street in Maha Rampaikulam near Vavuniya, Kalimuthu Shanthikumar (28), said to be a member of the Karuna faction, was shot dead. The attackers who came in a motor cycle and a three wheeler also hacked Sabaratnam Ajanthan, an onlooker.

Early yestrday morning, a grenade was hurled at a joint Army-Police patrol outside the Air Force base in Puddur in Batticaloa. A policeman and three soldiers were injured.

In the past weeks, Tiger guerrillas blamed the Army for deaths of their cadres in the East. The Army continues to deny their involvement and in turn accuses the guerrillas of carrying out attacks on soldiers. The latest was the killing of Lance Corporal Wasantha Kolombage of Military Intelligence. He was travelling from Chenkaladi in Batticaloa in a private bus on the morning of May 7 when he was shot dead. The Army accuses LTTE gunmen of carrying out the attack.

Until last night, no mechanism or quick reaction procedures have helped apprehend the culprits. Whether it related to new incidents or those in the past did not matter. If there is a moral arising from this, it is that no amount of pledges are worth the paper they are signed on if there is no will or commitment from any party to enforce it. Hence the tit for tat hit and run gun battles are bound to continue. They will no doubt raise problems of morale both for the Army and the LTTE.

The Army's predicament was underscored by a senior officer with long years of experience in combat and service in operational areas. Speaking on grounds of anonymity he lamented "today our troops have to defend themselves on two fronts, one from an enemy not at war but active and a growingly insensitive bureaucracy cum political establishment that is not focused on what is going on." Lance Corporal Kolombage's death, he said, illustrated their dilemma. Those who blamed the previous United National Front (UNF) for their treacherous attitude over the Athurugiriya Safe House issue seemed conspicuous by their deafening silence.

If that was bad, still worse was the confusion those in the armed forces have been thrown into over matters relating to the resumption of peace talks. Like their fellow citizens in other spheres of life, they were in the dark about the new UPFA Government's efforts. However, unlike their fellow citizens, armed forces personnel were different. They fought a war for 19 years. They have held the peace during the ceasefire for over two years.

Their important role was acknowledged by previous Governments. That was why successive Governments kept them informed when they embarked on peace efforts. The late Ranjan Wijeratne, Deputy Minister of Defence under President Premadasa went from military camp to camp explaining why that regime embarked on a peace process. Anuruddha Ratwatte, Deputy Defence Minister under the People's Alliance Government, though accused of other misdemeanours, did just that. He explained why the PA was embarking on peace initiatives during whistle stop tours of military installations in the company of armed forces chiefs.

The conduct of the peace process by the UNF and accusations they heeded too many concessions to the LTTE were major election issues. Even before polls, the defence portfolio was brought under the President on the grounds that such concessions and the accompanying neglect of responsibilities had endangered national security interests. The UPFA was voted to power. Yet, there is no Deputy Minister for Defence. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who is the Minister, has been far too busy with other responsibilities. All matters have been left in the hands of a retired policeman who is inexperienced as a bureaucrat.

In view of this, it would have been only appropriate for a UPFA Minister to have briefed those in the armed forces. That should have been on the new initiatives towards peace, the issues involved and how they are being tackled. In the absence of any such move, the defence and security establishment remains as confused as the rest of the population. This is with the exception of the few who are privileged.

As a result there is lack of clarity and the confusion continues. It is in this backdrop that UPFA has revived initiatives to resume peace talks. As reported in these columns last week, informal contacts between the UPFA and the LTTE, even before President Kumaratunga's Nuwara Eliya talks with Norwegian facilitators (on May 2) paved the way to clear some of the issues. As reported, the main issue was cleared thereafter when President Kumaratunga acknowledged "the need to commence development work in the North and East without delay, with full participation of the LTTE."

The Tiger guerrilla leadership has continued to insist that the institutional mechanism for such development work should only be through the proposed Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA). Hence, the Government's willingness to discuss the ISGA proposal. This was revealed in these columns last week.

However, a new development came last Monday (May 10) when visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen and his deputy, Vidar Helgesen, held talks with President Kumaratunga. In addition to discussing the ISGA proposal when talks resume with the LTTE, she had proposed that talks also be held simultaneously to reach a final settlement.

Mr Petersen who met LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran together with Mr Helgesen the next day (Tuesday) conveyed this proposal. Also present at this meeting and doing the role of an English translator was LTTE Chief Negotiator, Anton Balasingham.

What followed at this discussion is best said in the words of Mr. Balasingham. On Wednesday (May 12), he gave an interview to the Colombo based Tamil daily Sudar Oli. Here is a Tamil translation of the part that deals with the discussion on President Kumaratunga's proposal:

"Talks can be held in the first place on matters connected with solving the problems of the Tamils by implementing the ISGA proposals. There is no point in talking with a minority government in a hung parliament on other issues. LTTE leader, V. Prabhakaran has categorically stated this. He has conveyed this to the Government of Sri Lanka through Norway's Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen. The LTTE leader has rejected the proposal put forward by the Sri Lanka Government to have talks on the interim administration (ISGA) and a final settlement together. He has clearly expressed his stance.

"DETAILS OF THE TALKS: At the meeting between the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Petersen and the national leader of the LTTE, V. Prabhakaran. LTTE has already stated certain criteria for talks.

"Our primary stance has been that the LTTE should be accepted by the Government as the sole representative of the Tamil people and talks held. Secondly both sides must have equality of status and participate in the discussions. The talks must be held as it has been in the past in certain foreign countries.

"The Government of President Kumaratunga had already agreed to some of our demands. She is prepared to accept the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamils and have talks - She is prepared to talk only with the LTTE with equal status.

"These two matters have been conveyed to Mr. Prabhakaran. Yet there is a minor problem. President Kumaratunga is prepared to have talks on the interim administration (ISGA). However, her stance is that talks also must be held for a final settlement. Our leader very clearly explained our stance to the Norwegian delegation."

ON THE SETTING UP OF AN INTERIM SELF GOVERNING AUTHORITY (ISGA): "We have received a mandate (at the general elections) from our people for ISGA to be the sole basis for any discussion. Our people have given us a unanimous mandate.

"Our leader has explained that talks have to be held first on the ISGA and a settlement reached on it. After its implementation, talks can be held on a permanent settlement. We cannot expect a permanent settlement to be provided by the Chandrika Government that speaks of an ISGA on the one hand and a permanent solution on the other. There is a hung parliament. If a settlement is reached, the constitution has to be changed or amended. What use will there be in having talks with such a government. Therefore we must consider the practicable subject in the first place.

"The same problems existed when talks were held with the Chandrika Government in 1994. We told them talks should be held in order to satisfy the essential, social and economic requirements of the people. But Chandrika said that talks must be held on the political aspect and therefore the talks were abandoned. People had been subjected to economic embargo and they were living under difficult conditions.

"Talks have been held six times within the last two years. They have been of no use. Now an environment has been created for talks. We are raising this problem now. Create an interim administration (ISGA) that will resolve issues like rehabilitation, reconstruction, socio economic requirements etc. Our leader Mr. Prabhakaran has explained to the Norewegian Foreign Affairs Minister to solve this problem and then a permanent settlement can be talked about. Norwegian Foreign Minister will explain our stance on this matter to the President. We have told that we are prepared to have talks if a consensus is arrived at on the basic stance of ours."

Upon their return to Colombo from Wanni last Tuesday afternoon, both Mr. Petersen and Mr. Helgesen met with President Kumaratunga to convey the outcome of their talks with Mr. Prabhakaran. Later that day, Mr. Petersen left for Oslo.

Mr. Helgesen accompanied by Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar flew to Wanni again on Wednesday morning to convey President Kumaratunga's response. During a meeting with Mr. Balasingham and head of LTTE Political Wing, S.P. Tamilselvan, Mr Helgesen declared President Kumaratunga had agreed to the request made by Mr. Prabhakaran - to first discuss the setting up of an Interim Self Governing Authority.

Soon after this meeting, Mr. Balasingham was quoted as telling the Tamilnet website that the "Government of Sri Lanka have agreed on most of the fundamental issues related to the resumption of peace talks. The report on the website said: "Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of a two hour discussion with Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Balasingham said the LTTE and Colombo would reach a decision 'in a day or two' on time and place for restarting the peace talks. He said Norway would make an announcement about the consensus reached by the two parties in 'one or two' days.

The website report added: "President Chandrika is showing very keen interest to somehow restart negotiations with the Tigers. We discussed the fundamental issues relating to the resumption of talks. We were satisfied with the manner in which majority of these issues were resolved. The preliminary efforts and arrangements to restart the negotiations are very satisfactory. However, I must say that no definite decisions were reached on all issues. And I cannot reveal the details of these.

"There are some practical problems to be sorted out over when and where to hold talks. The Norwegian government will make an official announcement regarding the basic agreements we have reached regarding the resumption of the talks in a day or two," Mr Balasingham said.

"He said the LTTE has stated that ministers with greater powers should take part in the talks. He ruled out the possibility of the negotiations starting this month. Responding to a question regarding the participation of Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, in the talks, he said: "The Sri Lankan government knows our position regarding him. I have nothing to comment on the matter."

Before departing Sri Lanka on Thursday night, Mr. Helgesen, The Sunday Times learnt, formulated a draft statement to be issued by the Oslo Government. He had obtained the approval of both the UPFA and the LTTE. It is now said to be awaiting the Oslo Government's approval before formal release. According to diplomatic sources, the proposed statement is not likely to make specific mention of the upcoming discussions centring around the ISGA when peace talks resume. The reference is expected to be oblique, these sources said.

Although the UPFA Government wanted the talks to resume later this month, the LTTE had favoured a date either in late July or during August. In view of LTTE's rejection of the Government's request to hold talks in Sri Lanka, the Norwegian facilitators have obtained the approval of both sides for an overseas venue. The first round is most likely to be in Oslo.

In view of the upcoming talks, the Government is to re vamp the Peace Secretariat. Some of the officials now serving are to be replaced by new faces. On Friday, the Presidential Secretariat announced the appointment of Jayantha Dhanapala, a distinguished and highly respected international diplomat, as Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat. He will function directly under the President and also serve as Senior Advisor. The appointment will mean President Kumaratunga will now have the counsel of Mr. Dhanapala on matters relating to foreign affairs. He is no stranger to peace processes having served many an assignment placed on his hands by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Informal contacts between the UPFA Government and the LTTE, as revealed in these columns last week, cleared some of the hurdles. Most of those remaining have now been cleared by the Norwegian facilitators to pave the way for the two sides to sit at the negotiation table.

The UPFA would have to still surmount many bigger hurdles. It was their leaders who pronounced that the ISGA proposals were a stepping stone for a separate state of Eelam. This position was re-iterated in the United States just this week by Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar. He declared they were a blueprint for Eelam.

The JVP has publicly declared they were opposed to the ISGA proposals. Would these remain acceptable to its detractors if it is called by any other name? That is if the LTTE agrees to a name change. No doubt, the UPFA has a long way to go with a dramatic policy turn around.

Back to Columns