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| Saturday, 15 November 2003 |
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| Wide political representation vital for peace process - EPRLF The destiny of the people of the North East as well as the people of Sri Lanka cannot be left solely in the hands of the Government and the LTTE, the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) said yesterday. It is imperative that the widest possible representation of polity and civil society is ensured in this process and in the negotiations on reaching a final political and constitutional settlement to the ethnic question in Sri Lanka, it added. In a news release issued yesterday, the EPRLF sought clarification of the linkage between the "interim" and the "final" solution and the processes relating to the two. "We are of the opinion that for the peace process to be sustainable and also be able to deliver a just and an equitable final political settlement to the ethnic question in the country, that it should be made inclusive and not confined to just the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka," the EPRLF said. The release added: "While we note with satisfaction that the Muslim community has the right to participate in formulation of their role in the IA, it is imperative that the Tamil representation should also be decided following consultations within the Tamil political formations including the LTTE. "The Tamil National Alliance is a construct of the LTTE and their claim that together they represent a significant Tamil opinion is yet to be ratified in a free and fair election. We are of the opinion that the LTTE and TNA are not the sole representatives or arbiters of the Tamil speaking people. "EPRLF and other political parties in the democratic mainstream which are also elected by the people; have members in local bodies and also represent a significant Tamil opinion. "At this critical juncture of the peace process, we extend our fullest cooperation to all initiatives taken to relieve the people of North-East of all their hardships and the return to normality." |
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