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by P. Krishnaswamy

Politicians and political analysts expressing their views on the current state of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the LTTE and the UNF Government have warned that instead of meddling with the MoU, all efforts must be taken to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire. They have also pointed out that this was not the time to fight for power sharing and in the overall interest of the country the President and the Prime Minister should cooperate in a constructive manner to bring a political settlement to the ethnic crisis as early as possible.

Joseph Pararajasingham MP, Senior Vice President, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF):

"At the last general election the people of the country gave a clear mandate for peace to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his party. In the context of that, the Premier signed an MoU with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. The LTTE, up to now, has not deviated from the MoU. It is the bounden responsibility of the PM to uphold the people's mandate. However, we feel that in order to pursue the peace process, both the defence and interior ministries should be in the hands of the Politicians, political analysts express views on current state of MoU government. The take over of three ministries by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on November 3 last year has made it difficult for the PM to take forward the peace process. In the light of the fact that the Premier signed the MoU as head of the government and on behalf of the government, the President also has the responsibility to abide by the decision. Therefore, it is time for the President to extend her cooperation for continuing the peace process by returning to the PM the three ministries that she took over and restoring the status-quo that existed prior to November 3, 2003."

Muthu Sivalingam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock and Financial Secretary of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC):

"The Prime Minister's stand is rather correct. But in the best national interests he should not abandon the peace process. In order to be in a position resume the peace process and provide explanations, where necessary, on matters under the purview of the three ministries, it is necessary for the PM to have the ministries under his government.

The peace process should not be an ambivalent effort. The optimism and hopes of the people should not be wrecked."

Dr. K. Vigneswaran, Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) frontliner:

"To find a solution to the ethnic problem both the Executive and the Legislature should work in coordination since this is a national problem.

There should be mutual cooperation irrespective of whether the President or the PM is to put the peace process back on track. In the context of the fact that the MoU with the LTTE was signed on behalf of the government, we do not see any reason why it should be re-negotiated."

A. Vinayagamoorthy MP, leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC):

"The people of the country gave their mandate to the Prime Minister to run the government for a full period. The President has not given any plausible excuse for taking over the three ministries. Ranil Wickremesinghe seems to be Prime Minister only for name sake. We blame the President for the present state of affairs. For being able to keep the MoU alive and give necessary undertakings to the LTTE over resumption of the peace process, the defence portfolio should be returned to the Prime Minister."

Segu Issadeen MP, Secretary General of the National Unity Alliance (NUA):

"The MoU was signed without the consent of the President. But she did not object as she desired the peace process continuing undeterred and humanitarian assistance being extended to the Tamil people who had suffered for over two decades. But now, after two years, we find that territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country is in peril. The LTTE had committed more than 350 MoU violations. These reasons and the arms build-up in Trincomalee, compelled the President to exercise her executive powers to take control of the defence situation. The peace process had stalled 7 months prior to this. After the take over the Muslims and Sinhalese of the East are heaving a sigh of relief. There are two options to get over the current political confrontation. Either the Prime Minister should willingly work in coordination with the President or the matter should be left for the people to decide in elections. If the UNF is returned to power again, the President should return the Defence Ministry to them heeded by the people's verdict."

P. Chandrasekaran, Minister of Community Development and Leader of the Up Country People's Front:

"It was President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who initially put forward a courageous peace proposal among the majority community to resolve the Sri Lankan ethnic problem before she received a historic mandate of the people for restoration of lasting peace in the country. The UNF government was also returned to power with a clear mandate for peace. An opinion has now been created in the minds of the minorities that the take over of the three ministries by the President is a primary cause for the current crisis. Therefore, we request the President to ensure that the ceasefire is intact and the peace process is continues in the best interests of political and economic stability of the country."

Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda: Professor of Political Science, Colombo University:

"Both the President and the Prime Minister should work out a mutually acceptable frame work together. Unilateralism will not work. Bilateralism is the only option at this crucial juncture."

Dr. Packiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA): "I think the Prime Minister's statement should be seen in the context of the co-habitation power struggle and as an attempt to seize the initiative and put the President on the defensive. An additional consideration must also be to put pressure on her with regard to the JVP alliance. The challenge, therefore, is either to return the ministries or take full responsibility for the peace process, at the same time, linking up with the JVP to seize full governmental power."

Jehan Perera, Media Director, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka (NPCSL):

"The Prime Minister has insisted that the Ministry of Defence be given back to the government before he can restart the peace process and negotiate with the LTTE. Since the peace process is intimately related to issues of national security, it is reasonable to believe that peace talks cannot take place unless the powers over defence are vested with the party that is negotiating. For her part the President has been offering the PM powers with regard to the defence ministry that are relevant to the peace process. Some form of compromise agreement whereby the President and the Prime Minister can work together would certainly be of most desirable state of affairs and which the vast majority of people in the country would welcome. In addition, it is nationally and internationally recognised that bipartisanship is indispensable in finding a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict. So far Sri Lankan civil society has been unable to bring about reconciliation between rival political leaderships. Therefore, we urge international mediation that would identify the core interests and find principled and creative options for possible solutions."

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