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| Thursday, 21 August 2003 |
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Balasingham not going to Paris - LTTE by Ranga Jayasuriya LTTE chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham will not attend the Paris meeting of its legal experts fuelling speculation that he could be sidelined in future peace deliberations. A LTTE spokesman however said Balasingham's poor health had prevented him from travelling to Paris. "But the meeting will be conducted under his (Balasingham's) guidance. The delegation will consult him when it is necessary," LTTE spokesman Daya Master told the Daily News. London based LTTE theoretician Balasingham's health had deteriorated after a kidney transplant two years ago. Balasingham's poor health has shot Thamilselvam into the forefront of peace negotiations. He was leading the 10 member LTTE delegation which left Colombo yesterday morning for week-long discussions in Paris. Earlier the meeting was scheduled from August 23 to 27, but diplomatic sources said the talks could be extended till early September. The 10 member delegation will meet another 10 members from the Tamil diaspora in Paris. "Altogether there will be 20 members in the Paris talks. The delegation on their return to the Wanni will submit their proposals to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran," diplomatic sources said. The delegation comprised LTTE Eastern military chief Karuna, its peace secretariat chief Pulithevan, and Wanni and East based cadres Alex, Tholgapian, Nodian, Arivu, Castro and the translator George. Among the academics and legal experts in the LTTE delegation are rehabilitation expert Joy Maheshwaran, LTTE international advisor V. Rudrakumar, M. Sornarajah and a member of Colombo University's Law Faculty. After the conclusion of Paris meeting, it will take two or three weeks for further discussions before the proposals are finalised and submitted to the Government, according to diplomatic sources. The Government believes that the currently stalled talks could be kick started after the Tigers submit their counter proposals. The Government on July 17 submitted a set of proposals to the Tigers for a provisional administrative council for the North-East, where the LTTE will have a majority while offering a weighted representation to Sinhala and Muslim communities in the region. |
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