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| Sunday, 30 May 2004 |
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Despite stalemate LTTE committed to peace - Thamilselvan by Ananth Palakidner reporting from Kilinochchi LTTE's political wing leader, S. P. Thamilselvan reiterated, despite the current stalemate in resuming the peace talks, the LTTE would remain committed to the Ceasefire Agreement (CA), and will continue to work towards a political settlement to the National Question. In an exclusive interview with the `Sunday Observer', Thamilselvan said they initially very much appreciated the announcement by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on resuming the peace process and extending her invitation to the Norwegian facilitators. We expected the peace process to resume soon so that we could discuss the issues elaborately. At present, however, there is a lull in the peace process and we don't see any positive response from the government. Thamilselvan further said they have been insisting that the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals prepared by them should be the basis for the resumption of peace talks. "Our insistence on these ISGA proposals is to take forward rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the war-torn North and the East", he said. He also said the ISGA proposals were prepared after several rounds of talks and discussions with the LTTE's international advisors. The ISGA proposals had been discussed with the other members of the international community too, who have been supporting the Sri Lanka peace process. We have clearly conveyed our position to President Kumaratunga through Norwegian facilitators. Now the ball is in the Government court and they should consider our stand positively and should activate the peace talks as soon as possible, Thamilselvan said. Once the interim administration was created in the North and the East, we could gradually start talking on the ultimate solution to the NE crisis, he further said. "During the talks with the UNF government led by Ranil Wickremasinghe, we indicated that we were prepared to consider a final settlement on the basis of a federal system. We told this during the talks held in Oslo last year", he added. "The LTTE is also particular in expediting the talks and finding an early settlement to the NE crisis. However, we believe an interim administration based on the ISGA proposals is vital before discussing on the final settlement", he said. Thamilselvan also said that the LTTE would standby the CA reached with the UNF government and there was no necessity for another MoU with the UPFA govt. President Kumaratunga has agreed that they will also abide by the CA which was signed in 2002. Commenting on the new negotiating team from the UPFA govt., Thamilselvan said they learn that the UPFA govt. would field a new team of negotiators for the future talks. He said the LTTE would remain with its own team and there could be only minor changes in their side. Their strategies and the political stand would remain the same, he added. |
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