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| Sunday, 26 December 2004 |
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LTTE wants clear agenda by Ranga Jayasuriya LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham, responding to the government's latest proposals for the resumption of peace talks, has called for a clear and well defined agenda for peace talks. Balasingham has written to the Norwegian peace envoy, Erik Solheim, that the LTTE leadership is displeased with the structure and content of the government's proposals. The proposals undersigned by the Peace Secretariat chief, Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala were conveyed to Balasingham through Solheim on Monday. "As the Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna (JVP) continues to declare its vehement opposition to peace talks with the LTTE, based on the Interim Self-Governing Authority as proposed by our organisation, the LTTE leadership insists on a clear, coherent, well defined version of the agenda, without ambiguity and abstruseness," Balasingham has written in his response, which will be communicated to the government by the Norwegian peace facilitators. "...Because of the vague and inconsistent attitude articulated by President Kumaratunga on the ISGA and the violent opposition expressed by her major ally and coalition partner, the JVP, the Tamil Tiger leaders insist on a clear, comprehensive agenda, instead of revising earlier formulations, definitely specifying that the Interim Self-Governing Authority, as proposed by the LTTE, shall be the basis for peace negotiations," he added. A Peace Secretariat official, however, told the Sunday Observer that the government had not received an official response from the LTTE. Earlier an LTTE spokesman said that the LTTE leadership was not "satisfied" with the content of the proposals adding that the Tigers viewed new proposals as lacking any new input, "except a few adjustments". The Government in its latest proposals had agreed to discuss an interim authority for the North East, but no reference had been made about the LTTE's proposals for an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA). The government has also wanted its counter proposals to be included in the agenda of peace talks, with which the LTTE leadership has disagreed, according to the LTTE sources. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Chief Trond Furuhovde will meet LTTE political chief S.P. Thamilselvan on Tuesday for talks on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. Furuhovde on Friday met the Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Dhanapala for a routine weekly meeting to evaluate the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. SLMM spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir described the meeting as constructive. We will be meeting Thamilselvan to discuss the LTTE's part in maintaining the ceasefire, she said, adding that all the aspects related to the Ceasefire Agreement would be taken up. |
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