The Hindu : We'll not disrupt peace process: PA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 28, 2002

International

International

We'll not disrupt peace process: PA

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO Sept. 27. Sri Lanka's main Opposition, the People's Alliance, today said it would not be a "spoiler'', but remain a "watchdog'' of the nation during the ongoing peace process.

``We will do nothing to disrupt the peace process,'' Lakshman Kadirgamar, senior adviser to the President on foreign affairs, told a press conference — the first by the PA after the direct talks between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, and the PA, which she heads, "greatly welcome'' the commencement of the talks, he said, and added that this was what Ms. Kumaratunga and her party "looked forward to for many years.''

Pointing out that it was the President, who had initiated the peace process Mr. Kadirgamar said "we will under no circumstances be a spoiler for immediate political advantage''.

While there was a broad welcome, there was also a clear positioning that the island's principal opposition party will indicate its concerns "in a constructive spirit'' and that its support will not translate to "a blank cheque''.

Mr. Kadirgamar said there was a need for clarity on the points made by the LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, on issues such as regional autonomy, the concept of homeland and self-determination.

Referring to the overall elation that prevails now, Mr. Kadirgamar counselled caution against the "euphoria'' becoming "anaesthesia'' as there was "always a possibility that'' the process may "go out of hand''. Despite the latest position by the Tigers, imponderables continued to exist, he said.

The LTTE's position at Sattahip, though "not entirely new'' was "welcome'' at "face value'', Mr. Kadirgamar said.

PA not intransigent

On the Tigers' criticism that Ms. Kumaratunga's administration was intransigent, Mr. Kadirgamar said: "it is sad to note that Mr. Balasingham said that the President is intransigent.

It is President Kumaratunga, who started and ran a courageous campaign with a slogan of negotiated political settlement."

Listing the other initiatives taken during the PA administration, such as the induction of Norwegian facilitators, and the memorandum of understanding, which preceded the current ceasefire agreement, and the steps to introduce the draft constitution in Parliament, "after the LTTE had tried to kill her'' Mr. Kadirgamar wanted to know if all these constituted intransigence.

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We'll not disrupt peace process: PA