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CBK
reveals details of JM but JVP says ‘NO’ President Kumaratunga said the proposed management structure would be confined only to six tsunami-affected districts and would cover only an extent of two miles inland from the shore. Meant to cover a period of only an year, it would be three tiered -- national, regional and district levels. At the national level, there will be a three-member body — a representative of the Tamil community to be nominated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a representative of the Muslim community to be chosen by Muslim political parties and a Government nominee. At the regional level, there will be five Tamil nominees appointed by the LTTE, three Muslims and two or three government representatives. The President, however, did not spell out details of the district level. However, she said Government Agents in the districts would play a key role. She said powers of this mechanism had not yet been defined though it would be vested with the task of identifying areas for recovery and spending for them. She made clear that funds for such purposes would be channelled from the Treasury. They would work through the Ministry of Finance. The LTTE had accepted the Norwegian draft for the mechanism on April 29 and this was a significant achievement for the Government. She said this meant the LTTE accepted the sovereignty of the country and was accepting the role of state agencies for tsunami recovery. President Kumaratunga said the LTTE had wanted to head the management structures in all six districts. However, there were district s where Muslims were in the majority. Hence they would head only the Batticaloa district leaving the other districts of Ampara, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kilinochchi. She said decisions by the three-tier organisations would be largely by consensus. At the upper level a simple majority would be permitted but contentious issues taken up at the apex may require a two-third majority. It was important that the Government accepts such a mechanism. Otherwise some of the international NGOs may want to give the funds direct to the LTTE, she pointed out. She said even EPDP leader Douglas Devananda was in favour. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva was the first to speak on behalf of the party. He said the LTTE was only committed to the creation of a separate state. With the full support of the previous Ranil Wickremesinghe Government it had strengthened itself. The establishment of a joint mechanism, he said, would have to be viewed in this context. Mr. Silva said the JVP found it difficult to accept it. He said it was important to create international opinion. Following him was JVP parliamentary group leader and propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa. He said the Government should have approached this issue soon after the tsunami and not now. He said it was meaningless to work out the mechanics of a management structure and then ask for the views of the JVP. Mr. Weerawansa said his party opposed Ranil Wickremesinghe not because of the ceasefire but because his Government had given greater recognition and acceptance to the LTTE. He said granting a joint mechanism would only pave the way for UN recognition of the LTTE. Minister Mangala Samaraweera said there were no harmful provisions in the mechanism. Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said he had travelled to many countries in his official capacity. He had been told by foreign dignitaries that no work could be done without a management structure. He warned that the Government would have to face unfortuante situations if this was not done. The Government team included Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Anura Bandaranaike, Sarath Amunugama, Mangala Samaraweera, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Reginold Cooray, Athauda Seneviratne, Dilan Perera, Wijedasa Rajapakse and Lasantha Alagiyawanne. The JVP delegation led by General Secretary Tilvin Silva included Wimal Weerawansa, Bimal .Ratnayake and Sunil Handunetti. |
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