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| Friday, 13 June 2003 |
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Political Round-Up : Tokyo conference yields more than what was expected by Ranga Jayasuriya Calling for international assistance in Tokyo to "regain" Sri Lanka, the Government received more than expected. Even in the absence of its peace partner in the Donor Parley. But while offering an unprecedented 4.5 billion US dollars over the next four years, the donors linked it to the progress of the peace negotiations. So the message is clear that neither the Government nor the LTTE should expect the promised assistance to come automatically. The conduct of the two parties in the peace process will determine the aid supply. And despite its absence, the LTTE had something which will impress its leadership - an appeal to resume talks, from US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage who refused to be in the auditorium when Balasingham addressed the Oslo donor conference last September. "Prove to your people, to all the people of Sri Lanka and to those donor nations that want to help, that you are committed to a negotiated settlement. Prove it by coming back to the table," Armitage was quoted saying. As indicated during the past few weeks, the Tigers have been worried about the internationalization of the peace process. When he wrote to the Prime Minister last week, while rejecting the Government proposed apex body for North-East development, Balasingham lamented that "some of the powerful international and regional players are prejudiced against us (LTTE) and continue to deny our hard-earned status as the true representatives of our people". In Tokyo, Armitage went on to say that the US would be prepared to spell out steps the LTTE need to take to achieve legitimacy, however, adding that "we simply cannot do if they refuse to participate in the peace process." So the appeal by the US Deputy State Secretary, though it was made in his personal capacity will have a strong impact on LTTE's decision making. In his address to the donor nations, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe offered a provincial administrative structure for the North East. But the Tigers rejected the offer saying it was a restatement of his previous proposal for an apex body for the North-East development in a different terminology. The Tigers said the PM's statement to the donor nations "seriously differs in perception" with what its leadership proposes. They went on to say that the resolutions adopted at the Tokyo conference had no binding obligations on the organisation. "The Colombo government, with the active assistance of the facilitator and its international 'tactical allies' has formulated this strategic paper to superimpose its own agenda on the LTTE", an LTTE statement said. However a Norwegian delegation is to visit the Wanni next week with the Government's proposals, diplomatic sources said. Hailing President Kumaratunga for her "courageous move" to invite Norwegian peace facilitators, the Prime Minister told the donors that the role of the President is significant in the peace process. The President too had a different tone when she addressed the War Heroes Day celebrations last weekend. Calling for all Sri Lankans to "get together irrespective of petty politics to build a peaceful and united Sri Lanka", she wished the current peace process all success. The Tokyo aid conference however went off without her presence and even without the videotaped message which Japanese asked from her to be telecast at the opening ceremony. The President declined to give a message, when the request from the Japanese Ambassador came through former Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, saying she knew little about the donor conference. The President said she was not officially briefed by the Government on the event. While the Government pleaded international assistance in Tokyo, the Opposition went to the British High Commission in Colombo to brief the diplomats on the "Government's undemocratic actions". The delegation led by Dr Amunugama will meet Indian, Japanese and US diplomats in the coming days and hopes to inform the United Nations and International Labour Organisation. The SLFP party organ 'Lakmina' was attacked amid an unfolding dispute with PA's Gampaha parliamentarian Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. Last week, Fernandopulle sent a letter of demand to the 'Lakmina' demanding 1,000 million rupees for alleged defamation. Meanwhile the former 'Lakmina' publisher Ajith Gallage lamented that he had received death threats from a group led by Ruwan Ferdinandez, Mangala Samaraweera's coordinating secretary, following his refusal to print the paper due to outstanding payments. Gallage said cheques valued over 170,000 rupees issued by Sripathi Suriyarachchi have bounced. The SLFP is in the process of restructuring as talks continue with the JVP for an alliance. But Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse is worried. He is left out of the restructuring committees, some of which are led by Anura Bandaranaike, Mangala Samaraweera and Nimal Siripala. Rajapakse, an ardent SLFPer would not comment in public on his exclusion, but he said the party had promised his inclusion in the committee; the promise has been ignored. |
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