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Willing to settle for regional autonomy: LTTE renounces demand for Eelam

Rodney Martinesz reporting from Thailand

LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham paid tribute to the dedication shown by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe towards achieving lasting peace in the country.

He told the media that the LTTE had renounced its demand for Eelam but would insist on a devolution package based on the concept of self governance.

Speaking to the media following the joint press conference hosted by the parties at the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel in Pattaya the LTTE delegate head at the Thailand peace talks observed that both Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and LTTE Leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran were keen in pursuing a political solution for ending the current ethnic conflict. In this regard he noted that the backing of the South was necessary to keep the peace process on track.

Both the people in the North and South yearn for peace and it is incumbent on those in the South to ensure the present process continue.

The ultimate objective of the LTTE is self autonomy as opposed to a separate state which is a totally different concept, LTTE theoretician and leader of the LTTE peace delegation at the Thailand talks Anton Balasingham said yesterday.

Addressing a joint media briefing at the Ambassador Jomtien in Pattaya, Balasingham said that the concept of homeland and self determination does not connote a separate state since "self determination involves substantial autonomy in the historical areas where we live".

He said a political model can be worked out to achieve this objective if both parties were willing.

Minister G. L. Peiris responding to questions on the declaration by Balasingham said he was happy that a separate state was not the aspiration of the LTTE and the option mentioned by the LTTE delegation head could be worked out if handled the proper way.

Both Peiris and Balasingham declared that the proposed Interim Administration was not an end to the peace process but a step on the way for separation of functions.

"If the Interim Administration should be seen as part of a process it will not stop there but will proceed to a coherent structure to accelerate the development work of the magnitude that is envisaged," Prof. Peiris said.

Balasingham responding to a journalist said that the LTTE in any event possessed a permanent administrative structure in the areas under its control but what is envisaged was a structure with a legal stamp whereby they could coordinate and work with the Government and attract legitimacy in the eyes of the international community.

Asked what justification there will be for the international community to believe that this time around the peace process will end successfully Balasingham said: "The international community has for the first time focused on the peace process and for the first time a ceasefire declared by parties are holding for eight months. There were for the first time members of a third party monitoring the talks".

"We also have in the government team men of calibre and eminence who display understanding. I am convinced the peace process will be successful."

The LTTE theoretician to another query declared that there was no question of the LTTE disarming at this stage. "The question of decommissioning does not arise until a firm decision is arrived at to address the question of the Tamil minority.

He said the concept of self determination involved substantial autonomy and a solution is possible if both parties agreed to a political model.

To another question Balasingham said the LTTE had no option but to fight for its political independence if this concept was rejected. "But this will only be as a last resort."

He also said that the LTTE was justified in demanding control of the proposed interim administration but would be willing to accommodate other Tamil parties and the Muslims who were after all inhabitants of the Tamil homeland.

Prof. Peiris said they had not yet reached any finality regarding an Interim (Provincial) Administration during the talks but had prepared the groundwork and taken conducive to that preliminary steps.

Minister Peiris said the meeting was frank, cordial and held in a congenial atmosphere. They enjoyed meeting Mr. Balasingham and Co.

"This does not mean total agreement was possible but in a long process such as this we must be sensitive to the other side without which no negotiation process can succeed", Prof. Peiris said. Balasingham endorsing his counterpart in the peace delegation said that they had developed a system of mutual understanding that would promote the peace process.

Prof. Peiris said that he did not see the need for a final agreement to be in place before international donors could step in towards the reconstruction process.

"The climate is already conducive to modest development. We do not need to wait until a formal agreement is signed". He said donors starting on a modest scale and continue as the process unfold.

The government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have agreed to form a Joint Task Force for urgent humanitarian and reconstruction activities in the North - East, at the conclusion of their first round of talks.

The Task Force will operate with participation of Muslims and its work will benefit all ethnic communities of the North and East, the Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok said.

Details relating to the mandate and structure of the Joint Task Force will be finalised between the parties with the assistance of the Norwegian facilitators. The two immediate priorities are stepping up humanitarian mine action, and accelerating resettlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.

The establishment of the Joint Task Force is a sign of the increasing level of trust between the parties and of their willingness to work together towards the establishment of a provisional administrative structure for the north and east, the Embassy said.

Recognizing that the way forward is a long and demanding one, the parties agreed to continuing rounds of negotiations. The next three rounds of negotiations will take place on the following dates: 31 October to 3 November 2002, 2 to 5 December 2002 and 6 to 9 January 2003.

The government and the LTTE expressed their gratitude for the extensive goodwill of the international community toward the peace process. They urged donors to provide immediate funding for humanitarian priorities. This will enhance public confidence in the peace process and thus contribute to the further progress in the quest for peace.

Both parties expressed their resolve to address the full range of issues pertaining to a lasting political settlement of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

This approach has proven successful in the establishment and implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement already in force since February. The parties recognized the need for sustaining the Ceasefire Agreement, with the continued assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, which the parties commended for its impartial conduct in the fulfilment of its important mandate.

The parties affirmed their determination to continue upholding the Ceasefire Agreement and expanding the range of confidence-building measures over the period ahead. The parties agreed to establish promptly a Joint Committee to deal with the issues relating to High Security Zones, with the aim of enabling the return of larger numbers of displaced persons to their areas of origin.

The parties discussed in depth the urgent need to address the difficult humanitarian situation in the north and east of Sri Lanka. To this effect, the parties agreed to establish a Joint Task Force for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Activities.

The government and the LTTE expressed their gratitude for the extensive goodwill of the international community toward the peace process. They urged donors to provide immediate funding for humanitarian priorities. This will enhance public confidence in the peace process and thus contribute to the further progress in the quest for peace. 

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