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'Negotiated settlement important'

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader Gajendra Ponnambalam said that they considered the LTTE to be the sole representative of the Tamil nation at the negotiating table. Commenting on the scheduled talks of Tamil MPs with the LTTE on Friday, he said, "our view has always been that the LTTE and the Tamil parties are in agreement as to what amounts to be a negotiated solution to the North East conflict on the basis of the Thimpu principles"

He said that the issues pertaining to the Muslim community will also be discussed at the talks. He said that it was the position of his party that the Government should first bring about normalcy to the North and the East and lift the ban on the LTTE prior to talks with the Government. He said that the Government should talk only with the LTTE except possible Muslim representatives.

D. Sithardan (PLOTE) said that the TNA should talk to the LTTE as they had the LTTE's support at the previous election. When asked about the Muslim community, he said," the North East is also the homeland of the Muslims. Any solution to the North-East conflict must allay the fears of the Muslims." He said "we had no problems conducting political activities in Vauniya, after the handing over of weapons. For the last couple of months, we did not have any clashes with the LTTE. But we have minimised our political activities because, we do not want to do anything which can create problems with the LTTE." Sithardan said that they will accept any solution agreed upon by the Government.

R. Sambandan when contacted declined to comment on Friday's proposed meeeting.

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