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The Ruhunu Janatha Party in a communique issued yesterday called for a temporary de-proscription of the LTTE prior to talks and said it is unfair to describe the proposed interim administration in the North East as granting of defacto Eelam. The LTTE is justified in calling for a de-proscription before entering talks with the government, it said. The communique said the Party had always stood for the de-proscription of the LTTE as reiterated by Party's founder Ajantha Zoysa, MP in Parliament on April 10 this year. The communique said the present proscription of the LTTE served no purpose as it was impracticable and restricted to a mere set of words. India and the United States proscribed the LTTE long before us and these countries had said a de-proscription of the LTTE in Sri Lanka would not affect their decision in any way.So if the LTTE is willing to enter talks with the government by honouring our national integrity, we too should reciprocate by respecting their integrity by de-proscribing the group. The communique signed by Party Secretary Aruna Zoysa further said in the context of present international opinion and pressure it is imperative for the government and the LTTE to deviate from extremist views and carry forward the present peace process towards a clear and justifiable solution to the national question. So far there have been indications that the peace process is progressing in the right direction. Monitoring of the ceasefire by an International Group and LTTE leader's appearance before the International Media are two positive signs for peace. It is also imperative to set up an interim administration in the North and East as the next stage towards ending the war. We could expect the LTTE to strengthen itself and extend its writ over the North East during an interim administration. In reality the LTTE is holding sway over a certain section of the country even today. But by entering an interim administration the LTTE will undoubtedly undergo a qualitative transformation. The LTTE will have to be more accountable to the people and co-operate with the government. The interim administration will also build a posture where the LTTE will have to work with the political mainstream and come under direct international observation. We would also create the machinery necessary for the LTTE which had been a military outfit to transform itself into a political organisation. An interim administration will help the LTTE to gain that qualitative transformation. Therefore to describe the proposed interim administration as a defacto granting of Eelam therefore is not a pragmatic and justifiable political stand, the Ruhunu Janatha Party said in its communique.

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