LSSP welcomes Geneva talks

COLOMBO: The Lanka Sama Samaja Party has welcomed the Geneva talks and the Government's declaration that it does not consider a military solution as a preferred option.

In a news release issued yesterday, the LSSP said interim measures would also be part of the Government's peace agenda. The LTTE too would need to readjust its positions, it said.

Excerpts from the release: "The Geneva talks held late this month can be viewed as a compliant gesture by the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to the pressure of the international community which has its own measure of the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka.

It is the LSSP's perception that a Ceasefire as was signed in February 2002 is an absolutely essential factor in a strategy for reaching a political solution to the on-going conflict.

The LSSP notes that the Geneva talks has correctly focused on this. But the parties concerned need to realise that a Ceasefire can hold only in the context of a commitment to a political solution to the conflict.

The LTTE cannot ignore the fact that the ground reality has significantly changed since the Ceasefire Agreement of February 2002. The split that has occurred in the LTTE signifies a new political development in the politics of the Eastern Province.

The LTTE demand that the Government disarm its breakaway faction identified with 'Karuna' is no answer to the emerging situation.

No can the LTTE ignore the fact that its original demand made, as claimed, in the interests of all 'Tamil speaking' people in the North and the East can now have no meaning when the muslim population no longer places any trust in the LTTE. These are matters which need to be considered not only in the evolving of a final solution but also and particularly on any interim arrangements as well.

It is imperative that in the strengthening of the Ceasefire Agreement attention be given to the serious need to effectively safeguard the fundamental and human rights of all people living in the Northern and Eastern provinces no matter whether they live in the 'cleared' or 'uncleared' zones.

The Monitoring Mission at the outset itself made the grave mistake of leaving alone such infringements of the Ceasefire Agreement which it considered as relating to police functions.

It was content to rest on the position that there were no infringements of a military nature. This was, as pointed out by the LSSP, due to the weakness of the Ceasefire Agreement in leaving its core provisions to interpretation.

In respect of the strengthening of the Ceasefire Agreement the LSSP draws particular attention to the plight of the people in the North who are denied access to their land and residences in the 'Security Zones' marked out for the security of military camps. The LSSP concedes that the security of the camps need to be ensured.

This is best achieved in consultation with and the co-operation of the affected people. This applies also to the educational institutions which remain closed.

The LSSP urges the Government to bear in mind that it represents the people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well, and that these peoples are capable of deciding independent of the LTTE on what is to their benefit and advancement."