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| Sunday, 15 June 2003 |
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Leftists urge Govt., LTTE to resume talks Senior Leftist politicians and political analysts have urged the Government and the LTTE to resume talks with expressing greater understanding over the issue of interim administration to the North and East, which had led to a stalemate situation between the two sides. Here are some of the views expressed to the Sunday Observer. Batty Weerakoon, Leader of the LSSP and Former Minister of Justice: The Prime Minister is however, entitled to feel that he had succeeded in the process and the strategy which he followed. But, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party is very confused over internationalisation of our internal problem by the Prime Minister. The process of internationalisation of our internal problem began in 1987 by the late President J. R. Jayewardene. "Anyhow, the PM was capable of receiving fullest co-operation of the international community and the LTTE was defeated by the international community at the Donor Conference in Tokyo. Now, the LTTE will have to step back and to come to reality since the international community had also rejected their strategy. "I think the LTTE have to climb down with their strategy and the government should discuss what the interim administration the LTTE demands to resume the talks. Dr. Wickramabhahu Karunaratne, Leader of the National Left Front: "Interim administration which the LTTE demands cannot be given within the frame of the Constitution and therefore one has to look around for an alternative solution to this problem. Eventually, the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had to go for an interim administration. "I think at this juncture Mr. Wickremesinghe should take courage to continue the peace process without listening to the slogans of the Sinhala hardliners. The slogans of the parties like SLFP, JVP and SU should be ignored. The other thing I see is the billions of rupees the country received should be used properly for the development of the country and for the rehabilitation of the North and East. Mr. K. Loganathan, Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives: "Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's suggestion for an interim administration at the conclusion speech of the Donor Conference in Tokyo and the LTTE's rejection of it, show the gap between the two parties. The Government suggests an interim administration for reconstruction and rehabilitation process in the North and East. But what the LTTE is asking is a politico interim administration. "The utmost priority should be given to understanding the difference between the Government and the LTTE and to go for a negotiated settlement for a final concrete solution to the problem. Core political issues should be addressed at the talks and then the agitating South will definitely assist the peace process. At the same time, human rights and democracy should also be addressed in the dialogue since they are one of the fundamental issues in the peace process. |
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