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We the undersigned members of the Peace Support Group (PSG) are deeply concerned by the developments that have led to the LTTE announcing the suspension of its participation in direct talks with the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and withdrawal from the June Tokyo Donor Conference.

We note that the LTTE in its letter to the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister on 21 May 2003 have requested the establishment of "an interim administrative structure with adequate powers to undertake Northeastern reconstruction and development activities".

The LTTE have also sought from the Prime Minister a positive and constructive response in clear and concrete terms on the proposal for an interim "administrative set up". They state that the latter will "help" their "leadership to take a crucial decision on the resumption of peace talks and participation at the Donor Conference in Japan".

We call upon the parties to address all contentious issues through dialogue in a systematic and cooperative manner aimed at ensuring the long-term success of the negotiations.

There is a real danger that non-participation in the Tokyo Conference will result in reduced levels of long-term financial and political commitment on the part of the donor community to the peace process in Sri Lanka and to the immediate humanitarian and development needs in the war ravaged North and East in particular.

We are very concerned by the lack of progress made with respect to the effective and speedy implementation of immediate humanitarian assistance in the North and East.

While the Government must be held primarily responsible for this unacceptable delay, it is clear that the desire of the LTTE to control all developmental activities in the region is also contributing to this state of affairs.

The decisions of the LTTE "to suspend its participation in the negotiations for the time being" and withdraw from the last scheduled meeting of SIHRN and the June Tokyo donor conference has provided further setbacks to the urgent task of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the North-East.

We recognize that there are genuine legal and constitutional obstacles to the creation of the North East Rehabilitation Fund (NERF). The establishment of SIHRN may have exacerbated the challenges in this regard.

We urge that these matters including the specific weaknesses in the SIHRN mechanism and the establishment of an interim administration are addressed as a matter of priority by the parties and the facilitator.

It is most important to ensure that all interim arrangements that are agreed as part of the ongoing process of negotiations are properly monitored and are democratic, accountable and consistent with the Sri Lankan constitution.

While constitutional considerations may make it difficult to devise ideal mechanisms and to satisfy all demands in the interim period, there must be consensus, compromise and cooperation.

It is also an important reminder to all parties committed to the peace process that these mechanisms are merely part of an interim arrangement and that a full and open dialogue must continue throughout the entire process so that we may arrive at a final political settlement based on the principles of federalism and internal self-determination in a united Sri Lanka. In relation to this, we wish to express our concern over the lack of progress on negotiations on the core political issues relating to a final settlement and are disappointed that the Sub-Committee on Political Matters is yet to meet.

We strongly believe that no peace in Sri Lanka can be either just or sustainable in the absence of strong and effective protection of the full set of fundamental civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights as recognized in a broad range of internationally accepted norms and covenants. We urge the two parties to commit themselves to a comprehensive and binding human rights document, which would be in force throughout the interim period and until a final constitutional settlement is agreed and enacted. The final constitutional settlement itself must be grounded in this same set of international norms.

We also call on the negotiating parties to agree explicitly to a set of modalities that will ensure an effective mechanism for the monitoring and protection of human rights.

We are also concerned at the failure of the security forces to provide security to the Muslim community during the recent incidents in Muttur and on earlier occasions elsewhere in the Eastern Province. While it is the duty of the State to ensure the Security of all communities in the North and East, it is necessary that the LTTE too should take all possible steps to demonstrate, in word and deed, its commitment to the rights and dignity of the Muslim community. This will greatly strengthen the peace process.

We are, in particular, concerned by the killings of Tamil members of the Military Intelligence, in and around the capital city of Colombo and in areas under the control of the security forces.

We are further alarmed by the abduction and killing in the North-East of members of Tamil political parties who held key elected positions in local government bodies. It is notable that the victims of political assassination are all members of Tamil parties opposed to the LTTE and which do not recognize the LTTE to be the sole representatives of the Tamil people. These killings are a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.

They have cast serious doubt over the commitment made by the LTTE at the Hakone Round of Talks that it would favourably consider the holding of local government elections. Political diversity, freedom of speech and pluralism are integral features of individual and collective rights. They cannot be sacrificed in the name of peace.

We call on all parties to respect the yearning of the people for a just and democratic peace and accordingly work towards a resumption of negotiations culminating in a political and constitutional settlement as a matter of urgent priority.

Signatories:

Sunila Abeysekera (sgn)
Sunil Bastian (sgn)
Sunanda Deshapriya (sgn)
Rohan Edrisinha (sgn)
Kethesh Loganathan (sgn)
Jehan Perera (sgn)
Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu (sgn)
Jeevan Thiagarajah (sgn)
Joe William (sgn)
Javid Yusuf (sgn)

All peace Support Group (PSB) statements could be accessed at:www.cpalanka.org/psg/psg.html

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