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The President and the leader of the LTTE have in the last two weeks made very positive statements on taking the peace process forward. The President has in clear and unambiguous language stated that no matter what obstacles are put in her way she will fulfil her commitment to restore peace to this country. On the subject of engaging the LTTE in political negotiations she has assured the country of her readiness to consider the LTTE's proposal for an Interim Administration pending the finalization of a political solution to the ethnic conflict. The LTTE leader has in his annual heroes' day speech in Jaffna spelt out the objectives of an Interim Administration as projected by the LTTE, states Acting General Secretary of the LSSP Wimalasiri de Mel in a press release.

The release adds: up to now the LTTE's demand for an Interim Adminstration has been in the south of the country only as ruse for taking forward its separatist politics. The LTTE's disregard of its strict obligations under the Ceasefire Agreement and its lawless and criminal acts perpetrated mainly in the North and the East had put the LTTE's bona fides in doubt. The Cease-fire Agreement itself has been under grave stress. The LTTE is not a alone to be blamed for this dangerous situation. Sinhala chauvinists in the Southern half of the country have irresponsibly continued to feed the LTTE fire.

"The President's assurance to the country that she holds herself responsible for leading the Government positively in the peace negotiations addresses the LTTE's expressed fears that negotiations with the Government on an adequate political solution would be undermined by the JVP. The President has said with confidence and quite correctly that the responsibility for the negotiations at the Government's end is hers and that there is no reason for the LTTE anxiety about what it sees as the JVP's negative attitudes.

"The LSSP is of the view that these assurance of the President should no longer allow the LTTE and the UNP to exploit for the purposes of their own politics the possibility of the JVP's intransigent positions as relate to the Government-LTTE negotiations. The LSSP deplores the disruptive attitude of a section of the press in falsely reporting that the Government has rejected the LTTE's heroes' day demands.

"The fact is that in his speech on the day in question Prabhakaran has made no demands. He has expressed the disappointment of the Tamil people on the failure of the post ceasefire negotiations and arrangements to address meaningfully what he calls their 'existential' problems. That term correctly understood refers to the people's present condition and not their political aspirations. The validity of the LTTE's complaints as concern rehabilitation, reconstruction etc cannot be denied. In respect of the interim administration what the LTTE had been negotiating for with the UNP government as given in Prabhakaran's speech is, an interim administrative mechanism "with adequate powers to undertake the task of providing relief and rehabilitation to the suffering Tamil population and to reconstruct the war devastated Tamil homeland." Controversial descriptions, if any, that may occur here are not material to his statement of the LTTE's need and to the Government's decision to enter into negotiations on it.

"Concerning such negotiations Prabhakaran says candidly, "If some elements of our proposals are deemed problematic or controversial these issues can be resolved through discussions at the negotiating table." Here is his definite statement that the matter is open for discussion. In such discussions the Government will of course bear in mind the parameters of the final political solution it can agree to although the solution itself or the core issues that relate to such solution need not be discussed forthwith. Such discussion will understandably be protected. It will be irrational for the Government to expect the Tamil people to put up with such delay while their 'existential' problems remain unattended.

"This is a matter the Ranil Wickremesinghe government did not take into consideration. This failure is proved by the very comprehensive and informative report published by Austin Fernando who was then Secretary, Defence, and actively involved in the negotiations with the LTTE at that time. It was that Government's unqualified and inexcusable failure to provide the necessary machinery to attend to the needs following the Ceasefire Agreement and the commencement of negotiations that compelled the LTTE to push for a functional and competent interim administration to attend to these matters. In this regard SIRAN did not measure up to what it had to deliver. The rest of Prabhakaran's speech consists of recrimination, speculation and the display of his own attitudes to other political parties and individuals. The reference to self determination and the right to secede are more mantrams with no relevance to what is in issue and what has been agreed to in Oslo and acknowledged with the duly signed consent of the LTTE's Balasingham and GOSL's G.L. Peiris and the Norwegian Deputy Minister who mediated in the negotiations.

"The LSSP also notes that the Oslo agreement provides for the setting up of a broad spectrum Advisory Council by the UNF Government of that time presumably to assist it in the negotiations and to keep the nation informed. The LSSP is of the considered view that the Consultative Council that has been convened by the President is in keeping with this provision. The UNP has therefore an obligation to attend this Council and guide it in its proceedings. To stand outside it and issue challenges to it as is presently being done by the UNP is sectarian and obstructive.

"Up to now all governments concerned in the peace issue have erred in treating what has to be done in regard to it as a matter for their respective governments and not a matter for the Sri Lankan state. We have now the opportunity for the President as the head of State to consult all parties concerned and to act not as a Government but as the State. The UNP cannot with any justification refuse to attend the Consultative Council. To act in such manner in respect of arrangements projected by itself in the Oslo agreement is immoral and disruptive.

We urge the UNP to reconsider its position and throw its weight behind the President, the release adds.

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