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'JVP does not oppose peace process'

Finding a solution to the North and East problem should be on the basis of both sides agreeing to maintain the unitary states of the country, JVP MP Anura Dissanayake said.

Dissanayake said the JVP does not object to the peace process, but the Government and the LTTE should reveal the conditions for talks.

He said the LTTE should give up their demand for a separate country, hand over arms in a stipulated period of time and give an assurance that they would not take up weapons again.

"The position on LTTE- UNP Government talks is still unclear. The UNP should explain their Interim Government policy further because it is unclear. We do not know the composition of the Interim Government, how much of land should be given for the LTTE to rule or who should control the area," Mr.Dissanayake said.

Peace is not just negotiations. "It should ensure the democratic rights of the people, allow Tamils to elect their representatives to public institutions unlike the District Development Council election and grant them economic independence".

Sihala Urumaya leader Thilak Karunaratne said this is yet another usual ceasefire of the LTTE announced due to the pressure of the Catholic Church on the eve of Christmas. This ceasefire will end like their other ceasefires. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga welcomed their ceasefire earlier. But they cheated her.

They declared the same ceasefire last year and extended it. Four months later they themselves violated it. A change of Government will not change the LTTE's stance over the ethnic issue. They stick to the goal of a separate country. They will not deviate from that stance, he added.

All Ceylon General Secretary and MP A.Vinayagamoorthi welcoming the ceasefire said that the Government should give strict instructions to the Security Forces to not to sabotage the ceasefire because that might end hopes for an early peace.

New Left Front leader Dr.Wickremabahu Karunaratne said this should have happened a long time ago. The Government should come up with strong proposals for devolution.

PLOTE leader Dharmalingam Sidharthan welcoming the ceasefire said that the Government should at least lift the ban temporarily for making the LTTE comfortable to come for negotiations.

Sri Lanka Communist Party General Secretary Dew Gunasekara said: "We should not forget LTTE tactics. The ceasefire is a gesture for a good start and it will save some lives during the period. However, both parties should continue talks without breaking it."

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