Truce talks end on successful note

Another round in April

Bandula Jayasekara

CELIGNY: Truce talks between the Government and the LTTE ended successfully in Celigny, Switzerland yesterday, with both sides agreeing to meet again in mid-April for another round.

According to a statement issued by the two sides at the end of the talks, the next round of negotiations will take place for three days - from April 19 to 21 in Geneva. "The LTTE is committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure that there will be no acts of violence against the Security Forces and the Police," the statement said.

It said the Government of Sri lanka is also committed to take all necessary measures in accordance with the CFA to ensure that no armed group other than Government Security Forces will carry arms. The Government and the LTTE discussed all issues concerning the welfare of children in the North including recruitment of children.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) will report on the implementation of the above agreements at the next session of talks.

Both sides committed to respecting and upholding the Ceasefire Agreement and pledged to take all necessary means to ensure that there will be no intimidation, acts of violence, abductions or killings.

They described the truce talks as a confidence building measure.

Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the talks were successful. "Sri Lankans should be happy. This is a positive stand for peace and proves that President Mahinda Rajapakse is a man of peace.

This would deescalate violence and create a smooth process for peace."

He also thanked the LTTE delegation.

Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim appreciated the determination of both sides to uphold the Ceasefire Agreement.

Solheim said there should be no more violence. The SLMM will also operate freely in the LTTE dominated areas.

The two sides met on Wednesday after a lapse of three years.

The talks also coincided with the fourth anniversary of the ceasefire.

Negotiations continued yesterday, the second and final day, at the Chateau de Bossey. Norway facilitated the talks, with the assistance of Switzerland. SLMM representatives attended the talks.

The two sides, led by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Anton Balasingham respectively, discussed a gamut of issues covering the ceasefire. Other members in the Government delegation included Minister Bogollagama, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and Ferial Ashraff.

Minister Ashraff has pointed out to the LTTE delegation that Muslims should be recognised as one of the principal stake holders in the peace process for a lasting resolution of the ethnic conflict, the Housing and Construction Industry Ministry said in a news release.

The Muslim community has been adversely affected by this ethnic conflict both before and after the CFA although they were neither a party to the war nor a party to the CFA, she said.

She noted the Muslims were ethnically cleansed from the North by the LTTE 16 years ago. Their economy, education, cultivation, fishing and all means of livelihood in the Northern and Eastern provinces have been affected tremendously.

She said the Government, LTTE, co-chairs and the international community should acknowledge the Muslim factor at all stages of the peace process.

Unless the Muslim concerns are adequately and effectively addressed no normality could be restored and no lasting solution could be reached, she stressed.