CFA talks

Minister Nimal Siripala to lead Govt delegation

by Uditha Kumarasinghe and Manjula Fernando The Government yesterday announced that Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva will lead its delegation for the ceasefire talks in Geneva this month.

The Government will announce the names of the others in the delegation shortly.

The Government of Norway as the facilitator in consultation with the Government of Switzerland will shortly announce the date of the CFA talks, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday.

The Government has already indicated its preferences which will also be duly conveyed to the LTTE and then announce formally very soon. The talks will definitely resume within the next three weeks, he said.

"President Rajapakse has given a more dynamic leadership to the country which we did not have under any former Government. The international community has also extended their maximum support to Sri Lanka," the Minister said.

"This is not a victory of the President or his Government alone. This is a great victory achieved by all Sri Lankans."

"On the directive of the President, I visit various countries as Foreign Minister not to whitewash or to sling mud at the LTTE.

The sole intention of my visits is to urge the international community to extend their support to bring the LTTE into the country's democratic framework. They are also our brethren."

The Minister said this is the first time the LTTE has shown even this kind of flexibility. As a leader dedicated to peace, the President and his Government were flexible on peace. Among the five countries which do not belong to the EU, the LTTE agreed to the first country in the list suggested by the Government.

"This is a more positive sign. We wish, like the Government, the LTTE will also be flexible to restore peace in this country and ensure democracy in every part of this country once these peace negotiations commenced," he said.

He said most powerful countries like US also accepted that the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE cannot be placed equally. The US Under Secretary Nicholas Burns in his recent visit to Sri Lanka said the US will extend its fullest cooperation to the Sri Lankan Government and also warned the LTTE that if they do not give up terrorism, there will be reactions.

The EU also made a strong statement on December 19 that the LTTE would face serious consequences if they did not come for talks.

Before discussing the core issue of bringing a lasting solution to the ethnic problem, the Government has to discuss with the LTTE the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) due to the steps taken by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to sign the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE on February 22, 2002 agreeing to all their preconditions.

The Minister said:"There is a big difference between the ceasefire and the CFA. The SLFP, PA and all the constituent parties of the UPFA are always on one stand that negotiations should be commenced to find a lasting solution to the ethnic problem and a ceasefire should be commenced before the talks.

"This ceasefire would not have been commenced in February 2002. It would have commenced in April 2001. Unlike the UNP which agreed upon the LTTE conditions, the PA Government attempted to commence a ceasefire with the LTTE on April 19, 2001. However, the UNP Leader now as then attempted to sabotage the ceasefire and conveyed various messages to the LTTE not reach a ceasefire with the PA Government as though he was willing to take over the Government within few months."

The UNP Leader who was then Prime Minister signed a Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE in February 2002. Even he did not know what this CFA was, the minister added. "Before the Government commence peace talks, it has to strengthen this CFA."

The Government has no conditions to resume ceasefire talks. The significant difference is that things which former Ranil Wickremesinghe's Government could not do are properly being done under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

" Before the Presidential election, the UNP slung mud against the UPFA Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse describing him as a war monger. After Rajapakse assumed duties as President, the UNP supporters in Colombo 7 said the speech made by Prabhakaran in November 27 indicated his willingness to declare a war. This UNP attempt was also not success."

Samaraweera said the UNP thought the UPFA Government would never be able to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table. Due to President Rajapakse's patience and new practical approach, the Government has been able to win the confidence of both the LTTE and the international community.

The UNP is attempting to mislead the public spreading various rumours, he said.

"Wickremesinghe wanted to show that only he can win the confidence of the international community. The people can clearly witness how the international community has placed its confidence in the Sri Lankan Government and Sri Lankans during the past two months," the Minister observed.