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| UPFA
floundering with peace moves In their quest to resume peace talks in a hurry, they appear numbed by their commitment to transparency. Their words, which ran counter to those of the others, were not matched by deeds. In turn, their deeds were not matched by the words they used to describe them. The sequence of events in the recent weeks speaks for themselves. It was just over two weeks ago (May 4), the Presidential Secretariat declared the "LTTE is fully prepared to commence talks with the Government at a time convenient to the Government." A press release also quoted the Norwegian facilitators as saying "the LTTE has no pre conditions attached to the commencement of the talks." These assertions virtually over rode what the Norwegian facilitators said two days earlier (or on May 2).Soon after their Nuwara Eliya meeting with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, they declared Norway will "continue the consultations" to "explore possibilities of re-commencing direct peace talks…" Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen said "it might take some time before the parties are in a position to come to the negotiation table…" All through, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued to insist that its demand for an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) should form the basis of discussion when peace talks resume. Other pre conditions they spelt out, like for example the need to recognise LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamil people, had been met. If there were still doubts that there was no demand for a discussion on the ISGA proposals at the resumed peace talks, they were dispelled in Colombo this week. Japan's Special Envoy to the Sri Lankan peace process, Yashushi Akashi told a news conference on Wednesday that the LTTE proposal for an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) would be the most important subject matter for negotiations. It was Mr Akashi who successfully advocated that Japan's overseas development assistance should be linked to facilitate the settlement of a conflict in a country devastated by civil war and violence. He held talks with UPFA in Colombo as well as the Tiger guerrilla leaders in the Wanni. His remarks came at the end of his latest visit to Colombo. On Thursday, the head of the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi, S. Prabagaran alias Pulithevan, told the Foreign Correspondents Association the ISGA proposals "must be the basis" for fresh talks. He faulted the existing bureaucratic mechanisms and declared ISGA was necessary to give a “peace dividend”. His remarks came as President Kumaratunga amalgamated the activities of state agencies dealing with relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the North-East. They will come within a new Ministry functioning directly under her. See box story on this page. Yet, the UPFA has continued to maintain official silence. Its leaders have so far avoided making any reference to ISGA being the subject of discussion when peace talks resume. However, in private, sections of the leadership argued that a discussion on the ISGA proposal did not mean the Government would agree to its content in its entirety. "We have the liberty to place our own response, our own proposals and our own suggestions when the subject is taken up for discussion," said one of them. That clearly reflected the position taken up by the previous United National Front Government (UNF) and then opposed vehemently by present UPFA leaders. The latter held that ISGA was not negotiable since it was a blueprint for a separate state. Having taken up that irrevocable position, the dilemma of the UPFA leadership is made worse by other new developments this week. The Sunday Times has learnt the LTTE leadership in the Wanni is debating on whether they should seek a written commitment from President Kumaratunga on some important issues. Besides an undertaking to discuss the ISGA proposal, such a commitment, LTTE sources say, may cover other pre conditions which the UPFA had already agreed to. However, there has been no finality on the matter so far. According to these sources, the need to seek a written commitment has arisen from two developments - the reported remarks by Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar and pronouncements made by the Janatha Vikumthi Peramuna (JVP), the major constituent partner of the UPFA. Both have strongly criticised the ISGA proposals. If a firm decision is made to seek a written commitment, these sources said, Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham will convey the request to Norwegian Special Envoy, Erik Solheim. Before his arrival in Colombo tomorrow, The Sunday Times learns, Mr. Solheim is to have telephone consultations from Oslo with Dr. Balasingham in London. This is to apprise himself of the latest developments on the LTTE side before engaging in talks tomorrow with President Kumaratunga and other UFPA leaders. He is scheduled to fly to Wanni on Wednesday. Before his departure from Colombo on May 14, Mr. Balasingham declared that the Government of Norway would issue a statement "in a day or two" on matters relating to the resumption of peace talks. Diplomatic sources said yesterday that this statement was premature and there were no plans on the part of the Norwegian Government to issue such a statement last week. A statement, these sources said, would be issued only after Mr. Solheim concluded his upcoming visit after ironing out a string of procedural formalities. That is both with the Government and the LTTE. Main among them is a formal agenda and the dates for the resumption of peace talks. Such an agenda will among other matters list LTTE's ISGA proposals. It is now certain that the venue for the first round of talks, at the end of July or early August, will be the Norwegian capital of Oslo. Therefore, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgesen was right when he declared "it might take some time before the parties are in a position to return to the negotiation table." What of the claim by the Presidential Secr-etariat? That the LTTE was willing to resume talks "at a time convenient to the Government" and "without pre conditions attached" are not anywhere closer to the truth. To say the least, it was grossly misleading and an attempt to hide reality. Doesn't this make clear that there is a strong need for UPFA to shore up their credibility, if the Sri Lankan public, leave alone the international community or even the LTTE are to believe in them? They do not seem to have learnt from the blunders left behind by the UNF Government, their spin doctors and propagandists. It is all the more intriguing since these developments come just six weeks after UPFA leaders said things to the contrary. That was during the general election campaign trail. Do they expect the Sri Lankans to forgive them for their totally contradictory utterances and forget, or both? For that, greater transparency will no doubt become necessary. Will that be forthcoming if and when the peace talks resume is the 4.5 billion US dollar question?
New ministry to coordinate Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation M.S. Jayasinghe, a senior officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service has been appointed as Secretary of the Ministry for RRR. A team of advisors are to be assigned to assist him in the effective implementation of rehabilitation work, avoid wastage and misuse of funds earmarked for the North-East. Former Rupavahini Chairman, Harim Peiris has been appointed as Director General, Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation. He also remains Presidential spokesman. The creation of this Ministry comes amidst demands by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that all development work in the North-East should be carried out by its proposed Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA). The LTTE backed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has already asked aid donors channelling funds for development activity in the North-East to suspend them until such time the ISGA is established. In fact the Tiger guerrillas want the ISGA to form the basis for discussion when peace talks resume. Explaining President Kumaratunga's decision to create a new Ministry in a note titled "New Institutional set up to streamline rehabilitation work in the North-East," Eric Fernando, Director General, Presidential Media Division has said that this restructuring would make the implementation work more effective and beneficial to the affected people. "The existence of a plethora of Government institutions engaged in rehabilitation work," he has said in the note dated May 13 "hampered the effective implementation of rehabilitation work and resulted in wastage and misuse of funds earmarked for North-East." He has said that a National Council for Peace and Reconciliation will be created. It will be the apex body in the new institutional arrangement that has the responsibility of co-ordinating the Government programmes for Peace and Reconciliation. This National Council will be chaired by the President and will be responsible for policy and co-ordination of peace related activities with the participation of all stake holders. The Sunday Times learns the government will invite opposition leaders also to serve in this council. The Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation is one of the two main arms of the National Council for Peace and Reconciliation. The other will be the Peace Secretariat (formally named by the previous United National Front Government as the Secretariat Co-ordinating the Peace Process or SCOPP). President
Kumaratunga has defined the roles of the Peace Secretariat under
the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) ahead of the impending
peace talks with Tiger guerrillas. It will Already, Jayantha Dhanapala, one of Sri Lanka's most accomplished international diplomats, has been appointed as Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat. Former Military Spokesman, Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne, has been appointed as Director Operations in this Secretariat.
Courageous
deal: Is it wise? Last month, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga gave approval and the two countries signed early this month an agreement for the Sri Lanka Navy to acquire a 1967 vintage US Coast Guard (USCG) cutter named "Courageous." The vessel had remained idle for nearly three years after it went out of commission with the USCG. The US Government offered this 210 feet long search and rescue vessel with a flight deck (but without a hangar) for a helicopter free of charge. It will, however, cost the Government US dollars 6.9 million (approximately Rs 676.2 million) to prepare the vessel and train the crew before sailing it from Baltimore (US) to Colombo. It will have to pass through the Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the voyage. A further commitment of at least US dollars 4 million or more will have to be incurred by the Navy to install a weapons system on board bringing the total cost to US dollars 10 million (approximately Rs 980 million) - half the cost of a brand new vessel having a much longer life span. The operational life of this old US Coast Guard vessel is said to be not more than 10 to 15 years. Moreover, the Sri Lanka Navy's Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) SLNS Sayura, much bigger in size and only 12 years old, was procured from India for US dollars 17.5 million (or approximately Rs 1715 million). A similar second vessel was on offer for sale from India when the decision to buy the USGC cutter was made. Also on offer were two Indian built helicopters. The 331 feet long Sukanya Class vessel SLNS Sayura was built in Vishakapatanam, India in 1989. It was used by the Indian Navy in maritime defence protection of offshore installations and patrolling of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). President Kumaratunga's decision to go ahead with the Courageous deal, The Sunday Times learnt, was based on many considerations including the improving of military and economic ties with the United States. She is learnt to have taken into consideration several other options including economically cheaper alternatives before deciding to go ahead with the US vessel. Although it was originally proposed to reactivate the 37 year old vessel in Colombo, it has now been decided to complete the work in the United States. The design feature of the Courageous incorporates a 360 degree visibility. It is capable of towing ships up to 10,000 tons and is fully air conditioned except for the engine room. In the US, the primary role of this vessel, which operated within 500 miles, was for search and rescue missions, law enforcement, homeland security and defence operations. During a visit to United States early this month, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, inspected Courageous in Baltimore in the company of US officials including those from the Coast Guard. Recent years have seen increasing defence co-operation between the United States and Sri Lanka. In October 2002, a US military team conducted a programme in defence planning. It focused on establishing National Objectives, National Security Planning Process, Allocation of Resources to Support National Priorities , External Security Relationships and Re-organizing Defence Structure. In September, the same year, another US team carried out a Military Education Assessment in Sri Lanka. This followed former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe's meeting with US President George W. Bush during a visit to the United States in July, last year. The US Department of Defense was tasked to assist the Sri Lankan military to assess a broad range of issues including operations, doctrine, procurement, training and Professional Military Education. The first DoD team conducted an assessment of the Sri Lankan Professional Military Education system in early September 2002. The five member team was led by Ambassador Robin Raphel, Senior Vice President of the National Defence University. This month the United States will launch its South Asia Pece Keeping Initiative (SAPI) with a Multi Platoon Exercise (MPE) in Sri Lanka. It will be held in a location 60 miles ourside Colombo. The venue is being kept a secret for security reasons. The two month long MPE will involve troops from Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal and the United States. India has declined an invitation to take part. Pakistan will also not attend. Sri Lanka Army is to assign two platoons for the MPE. In addition there will be a platoon each from the Navy and the Air Force. The SAPI programme is a recent US Army initiative and incorporates field exercises and command post exercises. The first MPE was held in Bangladesh in 2002. Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle told Jane's Defence Weekly Asia Pacific Regional Editor Robert Karniol in a recent interview that the Army hoped to deploy their first peacekeeping personnel before the end of the year. "Initially, for two to three years, we want to be involved only in peace keeping operations. Later, we will move on to the peace enforcing environment," he has said. Lt. Gen. Balagalle was also quoted as telling JDW "When the time comes that we think we can afford to commit troops we'll send large numbers: at least a brigade at a time. We should eventually have a combined force of infantry and support arms, including demining capability." The US Pacific Command (PACOM) has also been conducting joint combined exercises in Sri Lanka periodically with the Army, Navy and Air Force. In addition senior military officials are regularly invited to PACOM headquarters in Hawaii and other US military installations on visits, seminars and specially tailored programmes. Among those who visited recently were Deputy Inspector General of Police Keerthi Gajanayake, Director, Directorate of Internal Intelligence, the country's premier intelligence agency and retired Major General Jayantha Ranaweera, Military Liaison Officer (MLO) in the Ministry of Defence. The latter deputised for Defence Secretary Cyril Herath to whom the invitation was extended. Last month a 20 member group from the US Army, Navy and Air Force arrived in the northern capital of Jaffna to provide surgery and medical care for patients suffering from injuries and trauma caused by mines. Their mission has been titled BRAVA or Blast, Resuscitation and Victim Assistance. Also last month the US Navy frigate USS Cushing called at the Colombo Port on what the US Embassy in Colombo said was a "routine port visit." The vessel's primary missions are under sea warfare and strike warfare. A US military team is due shortly in Sri Lanka to conduct a study on improvised explosive devices (IED). They are to liaise with the Army's Engineering units. The LTTE is known to be one of the leading guerrilla groups in the world to have used IEDs extensively in their war against the armed forces. Defence Ministry sources say more programmes including assistance for intelligence and personal security are on the pipeline. |
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