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Presidential Advisor Ajith Nivard Cabraal stressed that no time should be wasted squabbling whether the CFA was amended or not. In an interview with Sunday Observer staffer Jayantha Sri Nissanka, he said all parties should work together to push the peace process forward to reach a meaningful solution to the crisis. Following are excerpts of the interview.

Q. Are you happy with the outcome of the Geneva talks?

A. Certainly. I am very pleased with the outcome. We would have been happier even with a lesser achievement. I can truthfully say as a result of the talks, after the February 23, 2006, people could now witness a violence free country. The LTTE was entrusted with some commitments and they have to seriously adhere to those commitments in order to ensure normalcy in the country.

Q. What are the responsibilities cast upon the Sri Lankan Government at the talks?

A. At the end of the talks, a joint statement was issued outlining the commitments on the Government and the LTTE. The joint statement clearly defines that both parties should respect and uphold the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) and cooperate with each other. Accordingly, the Government and the LTTE will be committed to take all necessary measures to ensure that there will be no intimidatory acts of violence, abductions or killings. When we went to Geneva for talks, there were 3500 violations of the CFA. Of that, 96 percent violations were committed by the LTTE. The Government was held responsible only for 4 percent. They were minor issues. If both parties adhere to the CFA, the beneficiaries will be the people. The LTTE has been given an undertaking to stop unleashing violence against Security Forces and Police personnel. The LTTE has also agreed to stop conscripting children to strengthen their caders. Children are children whether they are Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim. This is a great achievement as far as the country is concerned. These are all advantages and benefits Sri Lanka received as a result of the talks.

Q. Earlier also on many occasions they agreed to end conscription of children and respect human rights. But they never honoured the pledge. Therefore, can you trust the LTTE?

A. Of course, we cannot be 100 percent certain about it. We must keep vigilance as they may or may not adhere to the commitments in totality. In between these two extreme positions, there is a centre point, what we actually don't know. That is the risk we have to take at this stage because we are trying our level best to restore peace in the county. When we really look at it that way, this is an opportunity that we have to take and it is an opportunity for the LTTE to prove that they are for a negotiated settlement. Let us be optimistic and hope they will adhere to commitments. At the same time we should be careful and be conscious about all possibilities as you quite rightly mentioned that they might go back on their pledges.

Q. Has the Joint Statement provoked some coalition parties in the Government?

A. Basically parties within the coalition and almost all the parties were kept informed about the developments. We must be realistic that we cannot get every thing at the negotiation table. That is the nature of any negotiation. If you can go for negotiations where you can come back with every thing what you want, then of course you are very lucky. But this is a complexed issue. It is always the case that you have to agree to something little less than the optimum requirement. May be the Sri Lankan Government may not 100 percent agree to certain issues in this statement. But we have to adopt a `give and take policy'. At talks, you have to consider certain areas as less important and concentrate more on priority issues.

Q. Some quarters claims that the CFA was amended. But LTTE, UNP, JVP and JHU say otherwise. As a participant at the talks, what is your view, was it really amended or not?

A. I am not a lawyer and I don't know much about the legal aspect of the CFA. But at the same time as a practical person, I like to see this document as a statement. Whether this statement is an amendment, clarification, extension or it has no connection at all with the previous agreement, is immaterial. I am not an authority to define it. There are different view points about it and the people can argue one way or the other. All kinds of words can be used to define it. But I like to see it as a set of obligations and commitments for the two parties. I think without squabbling about how to define it, we should think how to push it forward to arrive at a meaningful ceasefire without arguments. This statement has however ensured the exercise of democratic rights, end to the conscripting of children, allowing people to engage in political activities, stop attacks on security forces and police personnel. All these factors are necessary to bring normalcy in the country. We should not get involved in definitions. There may be different schools of thought. Many top lawyers may define it. But those are their views and what I believe is that without getting involved in a controversy, we must look at the statement and see how best we can take it forward without checking the legality and harping on definitions.

Q. What are the issues you are planning to take up at the next round of talks scheduled in April?

A. Our concern is to have a meaningful ceasefire. There are other issues also to be addressed. The CFA is important at this stage before we discuss other substantive issues as we need to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the country. I think even the next round of talks too would focus on the CFA issues.

Q. Is the Government caught between the Northern and the Southern forces as a result of the joint statement?

A. At any negotiation, parties will raise issues. It is a good thing. It is better that we have an open dialogue. I think it is a very healthy sign where democratic norms prevail. At the same time it is the responsibility of the Government to explain the background to certain actions and others can express their opinion to push this process together. That is the challenge. If someone thinks that negotiations are going to take place without any disagreement, I think we are far too optimistic. May be even naive. But actually this kind of thing is natural. It is up to the parties concerned to get together and find ways and means of resolving those differences to move forward. I think that process has started and that could perhaps improve the entire process.

Q. Allegations are made that the Government has helped the LTTE to get undue advantages at talks. What are your view?

A. We have no control over the actions taken by other sovereign Governments in the world. We have resisted violent activities of the LTTE and that has been very clearly enunciated through out. At the same time, we had to go for talks. Every single party in this country endorsed the decision of the Government to go for talks. Nobody prevented us. The LTTE might have got some advantages but in the same way, we too got many benefits. But remember those Government will keep eye on the LTTE activities regularly. We have gone with the concurrence of everyone for talks. The Manifesto as well as all parties maintained that we should go for talks.

Q. Can the Government disarm paramilitary forces under the Article 1.8 of the CFA?

A. The word paramilitary means an extension of the military. But the Government clearly stated that there are no such party or persons in our military. We have one Police force, Navy, Army and Air Force but no paramilitary forces. Paramilitary forces means then the Government has to recognise them as paramilitary groups. But there is nothing like that at the moment. But there are armed groups operating like the LTTE. As far as the Government is concerned, the Government has no links with them. However, the Government is committed to take all necessary measures to ensure that no armed group or person other than security forces will carry arms or conduct operations. We will not permit that. If someone carries arms, they will be subjected to the law and order procedure in the country. That is why the Government gave a commitment and the Government will honour that position.

Q. What kind of support will the Government extend to the LTTE to carry out their political activity again?

A. Government does not have to give any support and the LTTE is free to have political offices if it is in accordance with the CFA. We are happy that the LTTE is going to engage themselves in politics. In the same manner, the LTTE should allow other parties to engage in politics in uncleared areas. That would also be a necessary. We must ensure that it must happen. Any party or person who wants to engage in political activities in the conflict areas should be permitted to do so.

Q. How will the Government address humanitarian needs of the people in the North and East?

A. The Government is committed to alleviate the suffering of victims who were affected by the war and tsunami. The Government is taking all steps necessary to provide relief. The `Mahinda Chinthana' has proposed to establish authorities and a mechanism to expedite rehabilitation work. Already, the Government has started work on it. There are various agencies which are working closely with the Government to ensure that aid, relief and livelihood development assistance reach all affected people. The Government is concerned about the suffering of people. With a peaceful atmosphere on ground we can carry out humanitarian rehabilitation programmes.

Q. What role do you expect from the new Head of the SLMM?

A. The SLMM is allowed to go to uncleared areas. At times they were not permitted to be present physically. But technically they have access to all the areas. Hereafter, the SLMM will monitor and report on the implementation of the Joint Statement commitments which will be tabled at the next session of the talks. The SLMM has a greater responsibility to monitor whether both parties adhere to the obligations. We expect the SLMM to play a vital role and I am sure that the new Head will take all steps necessary to ensure that both parties will adhere to commitments. The SLMM should quickly report all violation of the CFA.

Q. A newspaper reported that the Government was checkmated by LTTE negotiator Anton Balasingham at talks. Is it true? Could you describe the role of the media in the conflict resolution process?

A. Some media tried to portray the President as a war man and sabotage talks. But the President showed a great sense of maturity and got the talks on.

They used every opportunity to prevent talks from taking place. Then they exaggerated that talks were going to crash. Many articles ridiculed the Government negotiating team and described that this team will not able to reach an agreement. Then they expected that there will not be a joint statement. This is actually a tragic. These actions are anti-national.

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