Tuesday, Sep 17, 2002
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By V.S. Sambandan
The Sri Lankan Minister for Constitutional Affairs, G. L. Peiris (right), and the LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, at the Sattahip naval base on Monday. — Photo: Sriyantha Walpola
As expected, both the Government and the LTTE stuck to their known positions, but the talks, facilitated by the Norwegian Government, also provided a limited space for optimism. The two negotiating teams will meet for three days at the Sattahip Naval Base to thrash out issues relating to resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-ravaged northeast. While Colombo reinforced its commitment to a solution within the "unity and territorial integrity'' of Sri Lanka — the leader of its delegation and Sri Lankan Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Gamini Lakshman Peiris, said in his opening statement that it stood "unwaveringly for the amplest degree of devolution'' within the "unity and territorial integrity'' of Sri Lanka — the LTTE reiterated the Tamils' "right to self-determination.'' Asserting that "the LTTE is the legitimate and authentic representative of the Tamil people,'' Anton S. Balasingham, chief negotiator of the Tigers, said "it is crucial that the LTTE should play a leading and pivotal role in the administration as well as the economic development of the northeast.'' His claim of a leading role for the Tigers was based on the reasoning that "we have lived, fought and suffered with and for our people throughout the turbulent times of the war. We have a comprehensive knowledge of the socio-economic needs confronting the Tamil people. We have built an effective administrative structure for more than 10 years, which has sustained the social cohesion and law and order.'' The LTTE has been fighting the Sri Lankan forces for two decades for a separate state of Tamil Eelam, a political demand made in 1976, comprising the north and east of Sri Lanka. However, it has publicly stated that any viable alternative would be considered as long as it meets three core principles: recognition of Tamils as a distinct nationality, recognition of the northeast as a homeland, and the right to self-determination. The Tigers see the talks here as a means through which they could get an interim administration for the northeast.
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