Tamil political parties free to discuss political solution - minister

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

‘With the end of the LTTE and with it the threat to Tamil political parties against engaging in any discussions to evolve a political solution to the ethnic issue, the ideal climate now exists for these parties to re-enter discussions through the Parliament Select Committee to arrive at a solution, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told the Daily News yesterday.

Minister Yapa noted that the conflict was now over and the negotiation stage has begun. Earlier the LTTE sabotaged all discussions and they murdered prominent Tamil politicians, such as, Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam, A. Amirthalingam, K. Logeswaran, Sam Thambimuttu, et al. These politicians were attempting to find a solution to the problem, working with democratically elected Governments in power at those times. But now the situation is totally different.

According to Minister Yapa, now all parties can come together, discuss and arrive at a solution. All democratically elected political parties can take part in the discussion. Otherwise a solution proposed by one party could be rejected and opposed by another party because that is the nature of Sri Lankan politics. The JVP opposes this proposed Parliament Select Committee because they do not want to find a solution and end the issue. “But I hope responsible political parties such as the main opposition UNP, the TNA etc would take part in the Parliament Select Committee,” Minister Yapa said.