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The Lanka Sama Samaja Party with its commitment to a political solution to the ethnic conflict sources the present deadlock in the peace process to the LTTE's cavalier attitude to the provisions of the Ceasefire MoU signed by it and the SL Government with the commitment of the Norwegian facilitator to ensure that it works.

The negotiations between parties can be put back on track only by parties agreeing to observe strict adherence to the provisions of the MoU. The LTTE has regarded the MoU as amenable to major infringements whenever it thought it necessary to further establish its hegemony in the North and the East. Its conduct has eroded the support base for the peace process and has brought the LTTE's bona fides to serious question. The current peace process is what commenced under the PA government in 1994 and has profited from the public confidence built for it at that time. The Ceasefire MoU opened a second phase in the process and further strengthened and widened public confidence in it. But in the last few weeks it has moved to a slump from which it has to be rescued.

Batty Weerakoon

The LSSP is of the view that this can be best achieved only by ensuring that the LTTE that has been at fault subjects itself to the full implementation of the provisions of the MoU. Criticism of it in this regard has issued from the Tamil community itself and such bodies as Amnesty International. The LSSP does not think it feasible or constructive to commence negotiations on the projected 'interim administration' without restoring fully the validity and efficiency of the Ceasefire MoU.

The LSSP reiterates that it does not regard the question of the requisite 'interim administration' from a position of principle. Such administration and its ambit of power need to be decided in accordance with the progress of negotiations. It should not be forgotten that the PA government's August 2000 Constitutional Amendment Bill was itself an interim measure and that it had within it a further interim measure (an interim administration of 10 years) to take effect after the Amendment became operative.

This contemplated a commencement of negotiations with the LTTE in a context in which the Tamil people were assured that by this Amendment the Constitution has guaranteed to them in the North and Eastern provinces one or more autonomous regions in accordance with their aspirations.

Parties involved in the negotiations need to understand that they cannot reach finality on the 'interim administration' that has been demanded and other issues as pertain to the High Security Zones and SL's territorial waters without due regard to the anxieties of the Sinhala and Muslim people in respect of the LTTE's bona fides which have been adversely affected by its conduct.

It goes without saying that the SL Government has also the obligation to ensure that members of the Tamil community in these provinces are sufficiently safeguarded from armed LTTE aggression in the areas of their civic, political, democratic and human rights.

- Batty Weerakoon, General Secretary, LSSP.

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