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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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Peace process leaps forward: political issues on agenda : JTF under Sri Lanka law - LTTE agrees Rodney Martinesz reporting from Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, Saturday The peace process took a leap forward here today with the LTTE accepting that the Joint Task Force would function entirely under Sri Lankan law and, the Government and the LTTE agreeing to set up a 'Political Committee' to begin to examine the long term political steps that must be taken for a comprehensive settlement of the ethnic conflict. This agreement came at the end of the second session of the current round of talks being held in this colourful resort town close to Bangkok. Although this round of talks had intended to focus only on economic issues and the Joint Task Force, the rapid finalising of the Task Force enabled the negotiating teams to look beyond to the more 'substantive' issues, sources close to the talks, told the 'Sunday Observer'. This resulted in the two sides agreeing to set up a 'Political Committee' to begin to consider long term political steps. This Committee comprises Ministers G. L. Peiris and Rauf Hakeem from the Government side and Dr. Anton Balasingham representing the LTTE with a second LTTE representative to be appointed later. The negotiators also agreed to set up a 19-member committee on security matters chaired by Defence Ministry Secretary Austin Fernando and a third Committee on Economic Affairs also comprising Government and LTTE representatives. The issue of farming rights for Muslims in the East in areas under LTTE control has also been clarified, the 'Sunday Observer' learns. The LTTE has agreed to allow access to farmland without the imposition of taxes. Sources close to the talks told the 'Sunday Observer' that with these issues clarified, the two sides were proceeding smoothly in finalising the contours of the Task Force, the main focus of this stage of peace talks to bring a settlement of the ethnic conflict. A final draft on the Task Force was being licked into shape, sources indicated. Agreement has been reached on most aspects of the criteria to met in the establishment of the JTF, these sources said. The JTF mechanism is to be structured in a manner that would meet with the approval of the donor countries who meet later this month to pledge aid for the rehabilitation of the North-East. Meanwhile, the Government delegation has assured the LTTE side that its political stability was intact and the peace process could move forward without any hindrance. Government delegation leader Minister G.L. Peiris has told the LTTE side that proof of the Government's stability would be evidenced in the Parliamentary debate and vote on the national budget that Finance Minister Choksy presents this week. The question of governmental stability surfaced when LTTE chief delegate Dr. Anton Balasingham had broached the subject with Minister Peiris, referring to the recent boycott of Parliament by several Sri Lanka Muslim Congress parliamentarians. Dr. Balasingham has queried whether this boycott would threaten the Government's majority in Parliament and thereby undermine efforts to consolidate the peace process. The two delegations were also due to take up the issue of 'security zones' for discussion. The talks end today with a media briefing. |
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