TNA should not backtrack on talks – Leader of the House

By Manjula FERNANDO

The Leader of the House, Senior Vice President of the SLFP and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva joined in an interview with the Sunday Observer to speak about the TNA-Government. Talks, in the backdrop of Indian External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna’s four day visit and the developments thereafter. Speaking of the current deadlock over the Parliamentry Select Committee the Minister said, "We have not withdrawn from the talks or suspended the talks per se. But a request has been made to facilitate the continuation of the talks. We think the TNA will take note of the Cabinet decision and appoint members to the PSC.”

He added, “It is not just about offering a solution but also about convincing the minorities into accepting it,” saying the process involved major compromises on both parties, if the final solution is to be accepted by the people of the South as well as the North.

About TNA having affiliations with the rump LTTE, he said the Government has not put down any rigid conditions to the TNA in this respect.”It is up to them to choose whom they associate with. But we request them not to be influenced by those people. “

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: You are the Chief negotiator in the Government team negotiating with the TNA. Is it correct to say the Talks to find a lasting solution to the problems of the North and East people is now at crucial crossroads?

A: No, I don’t say it is at crucial crossroads because when we endeavour ourselves to find a lasting solution, it must be acceptable to both North and the South. All the political sources in the south should also be part of the deliberations.

The SLFP and TNA alone cannot solve this very sensitive issue. Our Government is a coalition government consisting of several alliance parties.

They too have certain vote bases in the country. They too represent certain schools of thought, with regard to this problem. Therefore the lasting solution could emerge only after reaching consensus among all these partners.

With regard to the talks with the TNA, this was the perception of the government and the Cabinet, that we should go ahead with the talks provided the TNA appoints their members to the parliamentary select committee. It is not a difficult condition for the TNA to fulfill.

We think the TNA will take note of the Cabinet decision and appoint members so that the talks can proceed as usual. We have not withdrawn from the talks or suspended the talks per se. But a request has been made to facilitate the continuation of the talks.

Q: Have the other parties nominated the members to the PSC?

A: The Governemnt has nominated but the UNP, TNA and the JVP is yet to nominate the members. We are quite confident when the TNA appoints, certainly the UNP will come out with their nominations.

The JVP of course has stated that they are not participating in this committee. But it is my view that JVP’s contribution in the process will be important. But still, with all other major parties in the PSC, this will be a good forum to discuss this contentious issue.

Q: JVP has a new faction which holds power among considerable section of its vote base, for instance the dissidents apparently control the university student unions?

A: But still we don’t know the stand of the two factions. Anura Dissanayake faction has stated their view but we don’t know the stand of the other faction. There can be representations from both the factions. We would be able to accommodate them in the deliberations.

Q: India pledged support to the proposed PSC. This has been conveyed when the visiting Indian External Affairs Minister met President Rajapaksa last week. In this backdrop, do you think a shift in TNA stance with regard to the select committee could be expected?

A: We hope so. India has understood the deep reality and the gravity of this question and also the complexity of this problem.

Therefore every endeavour must be made by both parties to reach a consensus on gray areas. We must keep away from minute issues and technicalities and commit ourselves fully to fulfill our difficult task.

Q: TNA has accused the government of being indifferent to their key concerns. They also claim there has been no progress at the Talks front. How would you respond to these accusations?

A: One has to understand this, we had discussions with the LTTE from the very beginning. It was not easy. Even at that time, when the Government was in a weak position, the Government was not prepared to concede many things.

Now the ground situation is quite different. The situation is more difficult. With regard to delicate matters of this nature, we have to make sure the solutions we reach between our parties are marketable to the community in the South as well as the North.

There has to be a great compromise. The Government has shown its bona fides by spending a colossal some of money for the North and East development and resettlement. The demilitarisation process has been done.

The genuineness on the part of the government to solve this problem and inherent desire to accommodate the Tamil and Muslim community are well reflected in all the acts and deeds during the last couple years.

After the eradication of terrorism, we have looked after the people who were affected.

We have shown consideration to minorities but at the same time, we are not in a position to compromise the national security.

We have to ensure the political solution that will ultimately emerge at the end of the discussion will not lead to a separation of the country. The idea is to keep the country together. The solution must be based on such a framework.

Q: The media reports indicate that talks between the Government and the TNA have reached a deadlock on three main issues - the granting of police and land powers, the merger of the North and East, and TNA participation in the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee?

A: Those issues are there. The question of merger is there, the question of Land powers is there, the question of police powers is there, the question of the concurrent list is there. These are issues of great concern to both parties.

The TNA wants land powers and full police powers. But in a discussion we too have certain perceptions about these issues. What we need is a compromise. No party can push through their position only and come to a settlement. There is very hard bargaining and negotiations. I must say it is not easy.

If the TNA is rigid on their demands and if we do the same this is going to be very difficult.

We have to move forward, we must try to understand each other and find alternative ways and means of accommodating those situations.

We may have to take innovative actions. Innovative thinking is needed, we are indeed trying hard.

This is a question that has blocked the country’s progress for the past 30 years. Few rounds of discussion will not help to iron out all those difficulties. TNA has its own problems. The diaspora is there. Their international support groups are there.

In the same way if we take the government team, we have our alliance partners, and our voters.

We have to secure all that while making a sincere attempt to find the best solution. By giving a solution to satisfy the aspirations of just one party, we cannot put the country’s interests at stake or destroy our southern vote base.

The TNA is having the same problems. They are also trying to secure their own vote base.

Q: All earlier attempts to find a lasting solution failed. How committed is the Government this time to see this process ends in success?

A: On earlier occasions, as the Chief negotiator with LTTE, I remember Prabhakaran was not prepared to give up Eelam. He was not flexible at all.

Now I think the situation is different. I find the TNA more flexible than the LTTE. The situation in the country is also more conducive for Talks. There is no threat of terrorism. Without death threats by the LTTE, the TNA is in a better frame of mind to discuss their aspirations on behalf of the Tamils.

I believe now there is a strong possibility that we could reach a consensus on a framework for devolving power and the history may not have to repeat itself.

Q: In all the rounds of previous negotiations the Tamil party walked out from the negotiating table and disrupted talks giving the impression, if the so called representatives of the Tamils are actually concerned about finding a workable solution. What if this past is to repeat itself?

A: It’s a hypothetical question. We must always think positive. As the Chief of the Government team my effort is to bring negotiations to a positive end.

We want to go all the way but you need two hands to clap. In a situation like this the solution has to be accepted by the people of the North as well as the south. We can offer many things, but if they don’t accept it, that is going to be a futile effort. Therefore, it is not just about offering a solution but also about convincing the minorities into accepting it. We hope that the TNA will not backtrack on the Talks this time.

Q: Are you satisfied that the TNA represents the true aspirations of the Tamil People?

A: That is a relative notion. Some will say TNA represents the true aspirations of the Tamil people. But even within the Tamil diaspora this opinion is divided. If you take certain issues, they don’t agree with each other. But we have to start from somewhere and the PSC will address many of such issues.

Q: TNA issued a statement criticising the LLRC. Will this have a negative bearing on the negotiations process?

A: My perception is TNA should not have commented on the LLRC for two reasons. Firstly, even the US and many others of the international community as well as the left parties in the country made comments highlighting the positive aspects of the LLRC.

Secondly, in the TNA statement not a single positive aspect, have been highlighted. It is true that the TNA has the right to criticise if they wish to do so but it should be reasonable criticism. But in this instance the bona fides of their criticism is in question. But since we have a commitment to bring in a lasting solution to this problem, we will not hold it against them to scuttle the on going process.

Q: TNA is still holding discussions and seem to be getting inputs from the LTTE remnants overseas. Are you disturbed over their affiliations with the rump LTTE while taking part in Talks for a political solution?

A: We have not put down any conditions to the TNA that they should not associate with anyone while having discussions with us. It is up to them to choose whom they associate with. But we request from the TNA to not to be influenced by those people.