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by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The confusion regarding possible political alternatives to Eelam could be cleared if the government studies the PA's Constitutional proposals, the People's Alliance (PA) said yesterday.

Former Foreign Minister MP Lakshman Kadirgamar said the Constitutional proposals of October 1997 and August 2000 presented by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga set out clear solutions acceptable to all communities for the resolution of the core issues of the ethnic question.

Kadirgamar told the PA's weekly news briefing that the PA was pleased about the Oslo statement's promise to "establish an appropriate mechanism for consultation with all segments of opinion as part of the peace process".

He said the PA will not accept a proposed solution that does not take into account fundamental matters concerning the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

He called for the immediate decommissioning of LTTE weapons. "This must be discussed in parallel with negotiations. The PA will never accept a situation that will take up decommissioning later."

Kadirgamar said the Tiger forces should be absorbed to the Government Forces. The Tigers should agree to act under a unified command of the Sri Lanka Army.

He said: "It is the duty of the Opposition-a duty owed to the people-to ask questions and demand answers. After these answers are known and analysed we will advise the people as to the correct course of action to be taken to safeguard the destiny of our country."

Now the Government has realised that this process cannot be conducted secretly and the aspirations of all communities should be met. This is the classic democratic process.

Referring to speeches made by Anton Balasingham and Velupillai Prabhakaran, he said the LTTE's stand on the "homeland' concept has to be clarified. "Where do we stand on this question ? Is the LTTE asking for a homeland or not ? The people are entitled to know."

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