PA-UNP pact a major step to end crisis

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, JULY 8. Despite the disbelief and scepticism surrounding the agreement between the People's Alliance (PA) and the United National Party (UNP) on a new Constitution, participants in the discussions view it is a milestone on the road to a political solution to Sri Lanka's protracted ethnic conflict.

The two sides on Friday concluded five months of talks on the proposed changes to the Constitution, with broad agreements on the major issues of devolution of power to the Tamil and Muslim minorities. The bi-partisan proposals would be presented to Tamil political parties next week. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has already rejected the package as ``ludicrous''.

The PA, UNP and the Tamil parties, barring the LTTE, are expected to meet later this month to discuss further changes to the draft document that promises substantial devolution to the minorities, making Sri Lanka a federal state in all but name.

While the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has said the document is a watered-down version of the Government's 1997 proposals and declared that it would not support it, other Tamil parties viewed it as a step towards creation of political space for the minorities, missing so far.

``The two main parties have agreed to go ahead with devolution, that is the most important thing. The country cannot wait endlessly for the LTTE,'' said Mr. Varatharaja Perumal of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front.

The state-owned Daily News reported that at the conclusion of the talks, the President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, thanked the leader of Opposition, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe. She said both the PA and the UNP had been able to put the country before party, and this augured well for a new political culture. ``We will now proceed to bring the document to Parliament and make this Sri Lanka's new Constitution,'' said the Minister of Science and Technology, and the leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), a PA coalition partner, Mr. Batty Weerakoon.

While some sections of the local media hailed the agreement, the Daily Island differed. ``The speed at which the PA and the UNP are reported to be reaching agreement on very contentious issues is not only surprising but is also cause for concern... Constitution-making should not be expedited to suit the political agenda of any party leader''.

But Mr. Weerakoon said though political reasons may have played a role in the agreement, they did not detract from the progress made ``on the ground''. ``This is a big achievement on the path to a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict.''

Mr. Weerakoon said the Government would go ahead with the presentation of the draft to Parliament despite the TULF's opposition. ``We have to expect that they will be cagey about these proposals, otherwise they will get mowed down by the LTTE. But we must go ahead with it,'' he said.

Crucial differences remain with the UNP. One of the main points of difference is over the provision for the transition to the new Constitution. The PA wants to retain the executive presidency for another five years, while the UNP insists that it be scrapped as soon as the new Constitution comes into effect.

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Section  : International
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