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| Sunday, 7 April 2002 |
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Tigers: interim rule first on talks agenda? by S. SELVAKUMAR The LTTE wants its first round of direct talks with the Government to focus on the formation of an interim administration for the North and East, according to reports from the Vanni. Tiger theoretician and chief negotiator Dr. Anton Balasingham reportedly told a public rally in Pudukudi-iruppu that the question of the administration of the North-East region was the urgent priority. Meanwhile, the Tiger leadership is also preparing to meet Muslim and Hillcountry Tamil leaders in exploratory talks soon, according to Dr. Balasingham. At a well-attended meeting in the Sri Subramaniam Vidyalayam premises, Dr. Balasingham had stated that before any such talks could begin, all aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to the ceasefire should be fully observed and a peaceful atmosphere should prevail in all areas in the North and East. "The proscription on the LTTE should also be lifted before such talks," he has added. The meeting was presided by Tiger political wing leader S.P. Thamilchelvam. Dr. Balasingham said: "Both the Premadasa administration and Kumaratunga administration did not start the previous peace processes with the intention of solving the ethnic problem. Premadasa had a hidden agenda. Once he achieved that he had sidelined the LTTE. Kumaratunga's intention was only to show the world that she was keen on peace but she deceived not only the international community but also the Sinhala and Tamil masses. Later, she tried to destroy the LTTE." Dr. Balasingham, touching on the solution to the ethnic problem, revealed that his organisation would not formally place its plan to solve the crisis but would await the government's proposal. "Our aim is a Tamil Eelam government but if the government does not heed this request, let them place an alternative proposal for us to examine it." He also said that when the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran holds his first press conference after a lapse of ten years, he would explain in detail the political thinking of the Tamil people, LTTE's policy and future plans of the organisation. He disclosed that Mr. Prabhakaran would also meet the Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians on Friday. "They got elected to Parliament telling Tamil people that LTTE is the sole representative of the Tamil masses. We have to explain to them our policy and also we will tell them what they should speak in Parliament in accordance with the policy of the LTTE," he said. Dr. Balasingham revealed that soon the LTTE would invite Muslim and Upcountry Tamil leaders for talks in Vanni. He stated that the LTTE was "ever willing" to join hands with Muslim and Upcountry Tamil leaders to form a join administration to rule the North and East. |
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