Seventh round of talks, a success:

Acceptable power-sharing for Tamils, our objective - M.A. Sumanthiran

By P. Krishnaswamy

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian for Jaffna District and Legal Advisor to the party M.A. Sumanthiran told the Sunday Observer that their seventh round of talks with the Government last Thursday the Government delegation agreed to give in writing its response to certain crucial issues raised by the TNA over a political solution to the Tamil issue. A Joint Statement is to be issued.

The party considered this a significant progress in the talks. Referring to the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to reach consensus among other political parties, specially the constituents of the UPFA, on proposals to resolve the issue, he said that the party was neither consulted nor invited. He also spoke on the TNA’s views, some of them controversial, on issues relating to power devolution and the situation in the Northern province in the run up to the July 23 Local Government polls.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Can you tell us of the outcome of your seventh round of talks, this afternoon, with the Government on power devolution to the Tamil areas?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed the committee for holding negotiations with us in an effort to find a political solution to the long standing Tamil issue.

We had formulated some points for discussion. This matter was discussed in the past at different forums, including the All Party Conference (APC) and the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), the Parliamentary Select Committee. These reports are available with us.

Our points for discussion were based on those. We presented our suggestions on the manner in which power sharing can be done. The suggestions are what we put forward in our third round of talks.

The government has not made response to them. But today they engaged in a number of those issues.

They also agreed to give us some of their responses in writing. A Joint Statement will be issued. We consider it, a significant development. Meanwhile, we have a mutual agreement that we will not unilaterally divulge what transpires at the discussions.

Q: Please comment on the appointment of a Parliamentary Selection Committee (PSA) to reach a consensus among the different political parties, including the UPFA constituents, on the proposed devolution arrangements?

A: The source of our information on the PSC is only the media.

The Government has not approached us or consulted us on it. Even at our seventh round of talks, there was no mention about the PSC. Neither have we been asked for our views on it nor have we been given any intimation about it. We do not, therefore, see any reasons why we should comment on it.

Q: Are you aspiring for anything beyond the 13th Amendment to the Constitution by way of a political solution?

A: People are always talking only about the 13th Amendment. We have amendments to the Constitution up to the 18th Amendment. The Constitution is one whole document. So talking only about the 13th Amendment is absurd.

The Government says “the Constitution which we have cannot address this problem and it is not adequate for that purpose.” Our discussions are focused more on what has to be done for a meaningful power-sharing arrangement.

Q: Did your association with the LTTE and your support to their cause benefit your community in any manner?

A: The TNA was associated with the LTTE from December 2001.

They had declared a unilateral ceasefire one year before they signed the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) with the Government on February 02, 2002. So, clearly, the TNA supported the LTTE only during the period of cessation of hostilities in an effort to induce them into the political mainstream.

It also has to be borne in mind that successive governments also worked with the LTTE. They negotiated with the LTTE and various working arrangements were made with them. That is because the LTTE controlled certain territorial areas of the country and it became necessary for Governments to talk with them in order to deal with them.

So one can imagine how much more necessity we had to associate with them because we represented the people who lived in those areas.

Q: What are the ultimate objectives of the TNA under the present scenario where the LTTE has been wiped out and democracy is restored?

A: The TNA is a party that asked for the mandate of our people and obtained it successively.

Our people have consistently given us their mandate for the past 50 years. That is because they are a distinct community living in a distinct area in this country. They need some sort of autonomy because otherwise they will remain minorities under the majority rule for ever, without any say.

This is denial of their democratic rights. For a democracy to be versatile and meaningful, the democratic verdict of these people should be honoured. There should be some acceptable arrangements of power-sharing. So getting that for the Tamils of the North and East is the ultimate objective of the TNA.

Q: SLMC leader, Minister Rauff Hakeem, has recently stated that they too should be included in the talks which you are now holding with the Government. Your comments.

A: We have had very good relations with the SLMC in regard to our efforts in evolving a political solution to the Tamil issue. But our present talks are an outcome of our own initiative.

This was brought about consequent to our request to the Government soon after the parliamentary elections last year. To my knowledge the SLMC never asked for an opportunity to talk with the Government on this issue. Now suddenly, they want to join the talks.

We are resolute in our stand that the aspirations of the Muslim community should be taken into account. But they should arrange on their own for talks with the Government on the aspirations and concerns of their community.

Q: Are you content with the Government’s action in ordering inquiries to bring to book those who were behind the attack at the TNA meeting in Alaveddy, Jaffna?

A: No. Because everyone knows as to who attacked us.

The Jaffna Army Commander has openly said that the Army came and stopped our meeting. He should know who did it and those involved should be arrested instead of holding inquiries.

Q: Parties contesting the July 23 Local Government polls in the Northern province have said that an atmosphere conducive to conducting polls campaigns now prevails because the LTTE’s presence is no longer there. Your comments.

A: The military is ruling the place. There is no rule of law. What the military says is the law. In my view there is no atmosphere conducive to holding democratic elections.

In spite of all such impediments we will contest the polls and we are confident that we will win all LG bodies.

Q: A Tamil Political Parties’ Forum was formed for deliberations aimed at reaching a common consensus on a solution to the Tamil issue. Your party held a series of discussions with that forum. Were they talks abandoned half way through?

A: The Tamil Political Parties’ Forum wanted to talk with us. We agreed and talked with them. We gave them the basic policy decisions of our party on the Tamil issue.

Leader of the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) D. Sitharthan and leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) V. Anandasangaree accepted them and they allied us in contesting the upcoming LG polls. Leader of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), Minister Douglas Devananda, did not accept our policies.

Q: It is reported that the Supreme Court dropped your Human Rights case challenging registration of residents consequent to the Government’s decision to discontinue with that process. Can you please explain?

A: The State came and gave an undertaking in the Supreme Court that they will stop the registration of residents and the Court gave an order.

The relief we sought for was granted by the State. The Court decided not to proceed any further with the case on that ground.

But even after that undertaking was given, registrations of residents was continuing and we moved the Supreme Court on that last Saturday.

Subsequently, Security Forces Commander, Jaffna, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe met us in Jaffna and gave us an assurance that he would stop registrations forthwith. He informed us that the National Security Council has also taken a decision not to continue with the registrations.

But we received reliable information that even yesterday (Wednesday) registrations were being done in the Kopay area. This is a violation of the undertaking given to the Supreme Court. We will be taking appropriate steps to have the Court order imposed.