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"There is no need for anyone to have any doubts of fear that the government is negotiating with the LTTE for settlement, in a manner that would be violating the rights of any section of the people. Whatever agreement that is reached across the table on any matter, the decisions could be implemented only with the consent of the people through an opinion poll.

Similarly, there will be much more benefits to the Muslim people with decisions arrived at with the LTTE agreeing to the idea of holding local government elections in the North East and also to handover back to the people the captured land, "said Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion. He was delivering a speech at the seminar organized by the All Ceylon Muslim League Youth Front on the Peace Process and its Challenges. The Minister said that at the last peace talks it was made clear to the LTTE that they should hand over, back to the Muslim people in the East, their lands and other property. The LTTE accepted this. The LTTE promised to hand over, back to the Muslim people these properties, with no conditions attached, once this season's harvesting is over. They have also insisted that whenever the issues concerning Muslim people are taken for discussion, there should definitely be a group representing the Muslim people. The government and the LTTE agreed to have a complete human rights programme arranged by the well-known Jan Mmartin a veteran in the area of human rights.

Neither general elections nor Provincial Council elections have been held in the North East for some time. The reason being the LTTE strongly opposing it. This situation completely changed at the discussions in Hakone. The LTTE expressed that they do not oppose such elections.

Accordingly, rules and regulations are being prepared for presentation to the Parliament in May on the directions of the Prime Minister, at which time two Bills are expected to be presented in Parliament. The objective of one Bill is the preparation of legal and administrative regulations required for holding local government elections in those areas. With this the initial step could be taken to implement democracy in the areas in which Muslim people live, which would be a great achievement of the government. The other Bill will be to prepare the foundation to restore normalcy in the areas from which the Sinhala, Muslim, and Tamil people were driven off. Therefore, the benefits are not only for the Tamil people.

The Muslim people are benefited by the ongoing rehabilitation activities, and very much more by the environment created through one of the three Committees appointed for resettlement of displaced persons clearing of landmines and other barriers, and infrastructure facilities such as electricity, water, etc.

There were unsuccessful attempts since the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact, to establish an environment for citizens of this country to live in equal and respectful status. We believe that all attempts that were unsuccessful then, will be successful this time. There are four reasons for this. First is the international consensus on anti-terrorism, second being the acceptance of the people after twenty years that resolution is not only through war, thirdly, the confidence placed by the LTTE in the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Although in earlier attempt, the two parties met directly. There was no mediator. A fourth could be the framework for involvement of a third party with much experience and ability, guiding and assisting both parties, concluded the Minister.

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