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| Sunday, 22 September 2002 |
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First round of Peace Talks : Opposition parties hold their reservations by Don Asoka Wijewardene and Deepal Warnakulasuriya Main political parties have welcomed the successful completion of the first round of peace talks between the Government and the LTTE at Sattahip in Thailand, while the JVP and the Sihala Urumaya parties have expressed their dissatisfaction over the Thai talks. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse commenting on the first round of peace talks in last week at Sattahip in Thailand, between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE said that although PA was pleased with completion of the first round but did not bring much of a relief to the civilians in the South. "As a responsible Opposition, we do not want to block the peace process. We are positive with peace talks but not satisfied with the outcome. Rajapakse also said that government, sometimes, may use the 'talks' as a temporary remedy to the conflict but not as a permanent solution. Rajapakse who refused further comments on the issue however, asked the government to make the peace process a transparent one as they (UNF) had promised in their election manifesto. MEP Leader Denesh Gunawardena: This is only the first round of talks and nothing significant has come out of it. The LTTE stands by its claims and the core issues were not discussed at all. As far as I am concerned there was no clear agenda before the talks commenced. The talks have been similar to previous negotiations between officials and ministers. We hope the UNF government will brief us the complete details of the peace talks held in Thailand. Leader NLF, Dr. Wickremabahu Karunaratne: Our party has been campaigning with a primary objective for a peaceful settlement between the government and the LTTE. The peace talks have been a great step forward to achieve permanent peace in the country. Our dream has now become a reality because the LTTE is satisfied with the government stance on ethnic problem. Without further delay the government must take positive measures to give substantial autonomy to the LTTE but prior to that the LTTE must establish an interim government. I know that a number of political parties have been misleading people on the pretext of chauvinism but the UNF government has taken dauntless effort to settle the Tamil problem in the country. We are pressing the government to go forward with its objectives and to grant substantial autonomy to the LTTE. Leader LSSP, Batty Weerakoon: The first round of talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE has concluded as anticipated with attention being drawn to the problems of reconstruction and strengthening of the pursuit of the objectives of the ceasefire MoU. It is difficult to expect anything more than engagement on concerns of this nature for quite some time. The LSSP notes the Prime Minister's commitment, as stated by him in New York, to an interim administration of the North and East. The LSSP is of the view there should, now, exist common ground between parties for them to proceed to their objectives on the basis of the devolution of the political power. This may of course mean the extension and widening of the provisions in the 13th amendment of the Constitution. The draft constitution of August 2000 should also provide material for consideration in formulating the devise of devolution. Dr. Anton Balasingham's statement that the LTTE does not operate with the concept of a separate state is not something new or a retreat from established LTTE position. The LTTE has always referred to the possibility of existing with all communities in Sri Lanka as a single state the restatement of this position. Dr. Balasingham gives us hope that there can be a constructive outcome in next few rounds of talks. It is also clear to us that much work has gone into the task of commencing their talks and in fact we cannot forget that such work started with the former minister Lakshman Kadirgamar's arrangements to work with the Norwegian in the role of facilitator. |
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