More Political Parties endorse Joint Mechanism
MORE political parties yesterday lent their weight to the proposed
Joint Mechanism to handle post tsunami relief and reconstruction in the
North-East with the added conviction that this could also pave the way
for a final resolution of the national problem.
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka in a media release yesterday pledged
its optimum co-operation for post -tsunami rehabilitation activities in
the North and East one of its arguments being that a majority of the
tsunami victims belonged to the two minority communities.
It also contends that although the Military and Administrative
authority rests with the Government in areas under its control, the
political power often remains either with the LTTE or Muslim or Tamil
parties.
The CWC while hailing the pledges made by international donors at the
Sri Lanka Development Forum has underlined the need to have a joint
mechanism in place to best utilise the assistance.
It also blamed the UNP, its one time political ally, for not taking a
positive stance towards the Joint Mechanism to strengthen the peace
process.
The party has called upon all political forces to unite to rebuild
the nation.
The EPDP issuing a statement notes that only a Joint Mechanism could
overcome various obstacles placed before the Government by the LTTE.
Observing that the population affected by the tsunami was desperately
in need of relief, the party expresses the view that Joint Mechanism
should not only be confined to relief and reconstruction but should be
such that all the affected people would be served by it.
"We believe that such a mechanism has to be broad-based, and ensure
ethnic and political pluralism and also respect democratic traditions
and human rights".
Meanwhile, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) notes that the
Mechanism that the LTTE has accepted is purely administrative in
character while the President had spelt out its functions.
The LSSP is of the considered view that this mechanism can prove to
be a significant step in taking the peace process forward, without for
the present effecting any crucial changes in the status quo. |