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(Continued from Tuesday, January 27)

We are committed to building a nation that is free, independent and united, which can take its place with honour in the comity of nations.

CIMOGG proposals based on the principle of subsidiary meet the aspirations of the people of all communities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces for self-determination within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. They also safeguard the interests of the multi-ethnic constituencies of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

It will be the Negotiating Council that will guide and monitor the establishment of the New Political Order in the North and the East. In this context, the LTTE proposal for an ISGA will be replaced with the Negotiating Council (and as soon as possible), by the People's Councils, the Divisional Councils and the Territorial Assemblies.

The first task of the Negotiating Council will be to arrange for democratic elections based on the sectoral method as suggested in the guidelines for a New Political Order proposed by CIMOGG. The first (primary) election would be to the 1504 People's Councils in the 8 districts. Each Council will elect 15 members (Trustees), totalling 22,560 members (Trustees). As soon as the People's Councils are formed the Central Government will release a minimum of Rs. 1,000,000 to each People's Council, i.e. Rs. 1.504 billion to start work on essential development projects in these villages and wards at People's Council level.

Within four weeks of the primary elections, the Divisional Council and Territorial Assembly elections will be held, where the elected members (Trustees) of the People's Councils will vote for their Divisional Councils and Territorial Assemblies. The elected members of the People's Councils will form an Electoral College.

The 71 Divisional Councils and the 8 Territorial Assemblies will elect 1,775 members and 200 members respectively. The number of Divisional Councils of each Territory is given below -

Jaffna has 16 Councils
Kilinochchi has 3 Councils
Vavuniya has 5 Councils
Mannar has 4 Councils
Mullaitivu has 4 Councils
Batticaloa 12 Councils
Ampara 16 Councils
Trincomalee 11 Councils

Total 71 Councils.

The Negotiating Council will authorize the Central Government to immediately release a minimum of Rs. 10,000,000 for undertaking relief work to each Divisional Council as soon as the election results are announced.

Simultaneously, each Territorial Assembly will be granted a minimum of Rs. 1,000,000,000 for commencing relief work.

The Territorial Assemblies will have full powers over the use of those funds but will report progress to the Negotiating Council monthly. The Negotiating Council will draw up the parameters and the controlling criteria for the use of the funds.

In keeping with the CIMOGG model, the three monthly People's Fora, the power of recall, the power of petition and the right to call for referenda will be available to the people of the various elected bodies.

These mechanisms will ensure that there will be no infringement of the rights of the people.

The Negotiating Council will be the apex Interim body. However, execution will be concentrated in the hands of the elected bodies.

The maintenance of the integrity of the State, national security and the control of the armed services will be a central function.

The Negotiating Council, in keeping with national policies, will set out the parameters for the administration of land and water bodies.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation of displaced persons will be a priority for the Negotiating Council to attend to. The Negotiating Council will issue directives to the elected bodies.

Marine and offshore matters remain with the Central Government but the Negotiating Council will give priority to facilitate the use of the seas for fishing by all Sri Lankans.

Natural Resources including forestry and wildlife come under the Central Government but the Negotiating Council and the Central Government will make every attempt to develop these resources for the benefit primarily of the local people.

Water resources come under the Central Government but the Negotiating Council will ensure that the people's fundamental rights to water will be safeguarded.

The Negotiating Council and the elected bodies will have the right to sign contracts within certain parameters, which have to be agreed with the Central Government. Disputes will be in the first instance to be settled in the Sri Lankan Courts of Justice but they could also be heard before a Court made up of one representative of each of the other three International groups.

Other transitional aspects

Human Rights: This will be ensured by the Negotiating Council and "monitored by the international facilitator groups" and the other religious and civil supporting bodies.

Absolute respect for all religions will be maintained and a culture of religious harmony will be fostered. Discrimination or demeaning any person by another because of religion, race, caste, national or regional origin, age or gender will be a criminal offence.

There will be a Bribery and Corruption Commission, which will come under the purview of the Negotiating Council till alternative arrangements are worked out.

All citizens of the country will have equal rights under the law in all the Territories. Divisional Councils and People's Councils.

The Negotiating Council will have far reaching powers, which it will be permitted to allocate to the elected bodies. The Negotiating Council will submit a report to the Parliament of Sri Lanka monthly on its work and get Parliamentary approval on a priority basis. Modalities for this will have to be worked out.

The Judicial system of Sri Lanka will be applicable to the 8 Territories but local Institutions of Justice will be strengthened.

The Negotiating Council will have the monitoring function of Finance but the Institutions themselves will draw the Budgets for the various local Institutions.

The Negotiating Council will have the right to set up a special Fund for the Reconstruction and the Rehabilitation of the North and the East.

The Negotiating Council can and should negotiate aid from donor countries but the Government of Sri Lanka and the relevant Territorial Administrations should countersign any loans, aid and other financial commitments to make them valid. A Territory can exclude itself from any agreement connected with loans and aid.

The Negotiating Council, till such time as alternative arrangements are made, will have overall supervision over the Accounting and Auditing functions.

Within a period of five years, a final settlement will have to be formulated by the Negotiating Council. During that period changes to the Constitution of Sri Lanka will be in place to work towards a final settlement, which will be in keeping with the dignity and the self-respect of all the people of this country and promoting self-rule and self-reliance, since the New Political Order will apply to the entire country.

(More information on CIMOGG available on www.Lankachroncile.com)

(Concluded)

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