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| Sunday, 2 November 2003 |
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First ever detailed peace proposals LTTE proposes 'Interim Self-Governing Authority' in united Sri Lanka In a historic first ever set of detailed peace proposals by the Tamil nationalist leadership, the LTTE has proposed a plan for an interim administration for the North-East in an united Sri Lanka that would include both the Government's and LTTE's participation at its apex along with the representatives of the Muslim and Sinhala communities in that region. The LTTE proposal describes the interim administration as an 'Interim Self-Governing Authority' (ISGA) for the North-East region and envisages an initial tenure of five years for the Authority until elections can be held. The LTTE memorandum sent to the Government is titled 'The Proposal by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on behalf of the Tamil People for an Agreement to establish an Interim Self Governing Authority for the Northeast of the Island of Sri Lanka' and includes a preamble that notes "the political courage of the present Government of Sri Lanka in reciprocating to the 2001 Cease-fire". Highlights of the LTTE proposals, as reported by AFP, are: . NAME: The Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) for the Northeast of the Island of Sri Lanka. . TERRITORY: Districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Vavuniya in the island's north-east. . EFFECTIVE PERIOD: ISGA to have elections in five years conducted by an independent election commission set up by the ISGA. . COMPOSITION: Members appointed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the government of Sri Lanka and the minority Muslim community. The number of members to be determined later, but to ensure an absolute majority goes to appointees of the LTTE. . JURISDICTION: Law and order, revenue and taxes, control over state land and all civil administration matters currently exercised by Colombo through a system of provincial councils. . FINANCE: The ISGA to prepare annual budgets, negotiate and receive direct foreign funding, including loans. All government of Sri Lanka spending in embattled areas to be channelled through the ISGA. . REHABILITATION FUNDS: Foreign funding, including the World Bank administered North East Reconstruction Fund (NERF), to be under the control of the ISGA. . POWERS TO BORROW AND TRADE: ISGA to borrow internally and externally, provide guarantees and indemnities, receive aid directly and engage in or regulate internal and external trade. . ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING: The ISGA to appoint an Auditor General. Money received from abroad to be audited by an internationally reputed firm appointed by the ISGA. . DELEGATION: The ISGA to enjoy powers to delegate authority to district committees to be appointed by it. . OCCUPIED LAND: The government of Sri Lanka armed forces to immediately vacate privately owned land it currently occupies. . MARINE/OFFSHORE RESOURCES: The ISGA to have control over the marine and offshore resources of the adjacent seas and the power to regulate access. . NATURAL RESOURCES: Existing agreements for the exploitation of natural resources such as mineral sand to continue, but new agreements or renewing agreements to be done by the ISGA. . WATER: The ISGA and the Sri Lankan government to enter into internationally recognised arrangements for sharing of river water. . ARBITRATION: Three-member panel with one member each appointed by the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers and the third by both. Arbitrators to be acceptable to all parties, including the Norwegian peace brokers. In the event of disagreement, the parties to ask the chairman of the International Court of Justice to appoint the head of the three-member arbitration panel. Reactions to LTTE proposals President's view this week President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga received a copy of the North and the East Interim Administration proposals of the LTTE from the Prime Minister's office yesterday, Presidential spokesperson Janadasa Peiris said. Mr. Peiris said it was too early to expect the President's views on the proposals as she would first discuss the IA proposals with her senior party colleagues and her legal consultants. "However President's stance on the IA proposals will be made this week", Mr. Peiris said. ***** SLMC wants 2 months time Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Minister of Shipping and Ports Development, Rauff Hakeem, has requested two months time to study the LTTE proposal and submit their recommendation on behalf of the Muslim population. A copy of the proposal was handed over to the SLMC leader, by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in London on Friday. The PM who is on an official visit to Washington stopped over in London, and was expected to meet the Minister again yesterday morning before continuing with his journey. Rauff Hakeem who is on a visit to Scotland with a high level SLMC delegation to study the federal system of governance there, also held lengthy discussions on the LTTE proposals with members of his constitutional committee and advisors, SLMC sources said. ***** JVP statement today The leaders of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna are studying the LTTE proposal for an Interim Self Governing Administration (ISGA) and will make a statement about it at a press briefing today. According to a JVP spokesman the party leaders will make public their views today. ***** SU rejects Thilak Karunaratne, Leader of Sihala Urumaya rejected the proposals, saying the ISGA will not settle any of the problems. "We expected them to ask for everything", he said. |
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