Archives

Govt, LTTE agree on aid blueprint for North-East

From Rodney Martinesz in Thailand

The government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) yesterday agreed on a structure for the special Joint Task Force to guide North-East rehabilitation which the parties believe would satisfy international donors while also confirming with the country's legal framework.

The speedy establishment of the JTF was placed on the top of agenda at the current sessions of talks in view of the forthcoming donor conference in Oslo with billions of rupees in aid in the pipeline for the North.

Speaking to the Daily News at the recess during the second day of talks, Head of the Sri Lankan delegate Prof. G. L. Peiris said both parties agreed on the shape the JTF would assume.

He said they were confident that the mechanism worked out would receive the approval of the international donors ahead of the November 25 aid conference in Oslo.

He said both parties were able to reach agreement on the structure of the JTF without much dispute including that it should conform to the laws of Sri Lanka.

It was pointed out by the government delegation that the donors would have to be satisfied that a proper structure would be in place before granting aid.

He said talks on the JTF would focus on three issues. Would it satisfy the aid agencies? Would both parties agree to the set up? What about the laws of the country ?

"I am happy to say we were able to accomplish all three imperatives," Peiris said describing yesterday's sessions as one of the most successful in the talks held so far. Peiris said the agreed structure of the JTF would have the accountability and transparency demanded by foreign donors.

He said they would be meeting again to put the final touches on the JTF and that full details would be revealed on Sunday, the final day of the talks.

The parties were also scheduled to take up the issue of security in the East and the issue of security zones at yesterday's talks in Nakon Pathom 35 kms west of Bangkok.

Prof. Peiris said they "have every reason to be satisfied with the outcome of the talks this morning".

Both sides and Norway, which facilitates the talks, said early rounds of the peace talks would focus on rebuilding war-hit areas and on confidence-building measures.

"The parties agreed to a set of measures to improve the security situation, inter-ethnic cooperation and respect for human rights in the North and Eastern Provinces," a statement from the Norwegian government issued at the end of yesterday's talks said.

The statement said: "The parties agreed to establish direct communications between the commanders" of the Tigers and the government's Special Task Force, a paramilitary force based in the East.

"The parties agreed to establish a process of regular consultations between LTTE leaders and Muslim political leaders," it said.

"The parties agreed to remove any impediments to the pursuit of traditional economic activities of Tamil and Muslim communities, such as fishing, farming and trading."

"International financial support will underpin the peace process as we will be able to deliver a peace dividend without waiting for a final solution," Peiris said.

LTTE's Eastern Commander Karuna currently in the peace delegation at the Thailand talks had observed that the Sri Lankan Army would be crippled if eight of its senior most officers were to retire at once.

He made his observation to Major General Shantha Kottegoda present at the talks as an advisor.

Karuna told the Major General that the simultaneous exit of officers of the calibre of the eight men mentioned would affect the very core of the military while this would also have a negative impact on the peace process.

Major Kottegoda is among the army officers who will be forced to retire unless their service is extended by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

He was asked about his retirement by Karuna while they shook hands across the table before the start of yesterday's talks at the Rose Garden Hotel.

The LTTE Chief Negotiator at the peace talks Anton Balasingham declared yesterday that the Colombo High Court verdict finding his leader Velupillai Prabhakaran guilty of the Central Bank bombing would not affect the peace process but was a blot on the spirit of the talks.

The High Court on Thursday sentenced Prabhakaran and several others to 200-year prison sentences for the bombing that killed 78 and injured many hundreds more in 1996.

Balasingham told reporters the LTTE has lodged a strong protest at the peace talks against the sentencing.

He described the sentences as ridiculous and said that both sides were responsible for acts categorised as war crimes.

"It was regrettable that the verdict had come at a time when both parties had decided to bury the hatchet and when the healing process had commenced," he added.

The talks, however he said, continued in a friendly atmosphere. 

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager