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Balakumar for Joint Task Force : Prabhakaran, Balasingham discuss core issues

by Ranga Jayasuriya

LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham now in the Vanni yesterday discussed North-East rehabilitation and reconstruction with a European Union delegation.

"Balasingham and the EU delegation discussed reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement work in the North-East," a spokesman for the LTTE political headquarters in Kilinochchi told the Daily News.

British Parliamentarian Gareth Thomas and European Parliamentarian Robert Evans on an inspection tour in the North Tuesday visited Jaffna, where the duo met the Major Gen Anton Wijendra, representatives of the Jaffna University Students union and the Principal of Hartley College.

The LTTE spokesman said the EU delegation pledged to campaign for more EU aid for North-East development.

The delegation, the spokesman said, has assured financial support for the maintenance and development of the LTTE's peace secretariat office in Kilinochchi.

Balasingham was flanked by LTTE political chief S.P. Thamilchelvam during the two hour talks.

Balasingham on Tuesday afternoon met LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to discuss preparations for the second round of formal talks fixed for the end of this month.

"Balasingham updated Prabhakaran on the peace process on Wednesday morning," the spokesman said.

He said the LTTE theoretician was in the Vanni to work out with the LTTE Leader, the Tigers' stance on the "core issues due to be discussed at the second round of talks".

Asked what was meant by "core issues" in the second round, he said the focus was on North-East reconstruction and rehabilitation. He did not elaborate.

He said Balasingham and Prabhakaran discussed the implementation of the Joint Task Force on North-East reconstruction and rehabilitation agreed by both parties in the first round of talks in Sattahip.

De-mining and accelerating the resettlement of internally displaced persons are the priority concerns of the Task Force.

According to the sources, the Government is planning to sign the Ottawa Treaty on Landmines, which binds the Government against the use of landmines.

Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen due in Sri Lanka next week will meet Balasingham in the Vanni, according to diplomatic sources.

The LTTE's clandestine radio, the Voice of Tigers, on Tuesday quoted Balasingham as saying that Helgesen will lead a Norwegian delegation comprising Special Envoy Erik Solheim and Ambassador Jon Westborg for talks with an LTTE delegation led by Prabhakaran.

Anton Balasingham, his wife Adele and LTTE Political Chief Thamilchelvam will be the other members of the LTTE delegation. The talks are expected to focus on the North East reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement, according the Voice of Tigers.

Meanwhile, Vanni sources said former EROS leader V. Balakumar whose party amalgamated with the LTTE in the late eighties was expected to be appointed the LTTE's head of the Joint Task Force.

According to the Finance Ministry sources, the Government expects to spend around 500 million US Dollars for North-East rehabilitation.

Balakumar amalgamated his party with the LTTE after the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord. After he joined the LTTE, Balakumar was made the movement's chief 'motivator' and was a pivotal figure of the Tigers' recruitment drive. 

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