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By V.S. Sambandan
COLOMBO. JAN. 16. Representatives of the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) today met the World Bank Vice-President for South Asia, Mieko Nishimizu, and Japan's special envoy for the peace process, Yasushi Akashi, in attempt to kick start a series of developmental work in the war-torn northeast. The meeting took place against the backdrop of the financial imperatives of the peace process and the Tigers' continued attempts at gaining further international legitimacy since peace talks started last September. Today's rather high profile meeting was held at the rebel-held Kilinochchi town, where the sub-committee on immediate humanitarian and rehabilitation needs in the north and east (SIRHN) took place. Japan, which is Sri Lanka's single largest donor, has said it would link its assistance to further progress achieved through negotiations in the peace process. Since last November, when Mr. Akashi made his first visit as Tokyo's special envoy for the peace process, he has taken the role of `principal adviser' to the SIRHN, which comprises representatives of the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. Debt-ridden Sri Lanka and the internationally banned Tigers are both in need of funds, providing a financial imperative. More significantly, the availability of funds has been linked to the continuity of the SIRHAN, making finance one of the factors that keeps the process moving. Last week, the two sides requested the World Bank to be the custodian for the funds they plan to raise jointly through international donors' meetings. At today's meeting of the SIRHN, the two sides decided on infrastructure projects relating to reconstruction of roads, storage and cold chain facilities, heath care and irrigation in the north and east.
Paper on Muslim resettlement
Touching upon the sensitive issue of resettlement of Muslims in the north and east, it was decided that a concept paper and proposal for resettlement will be prepared for discussion during next month's meeting of the SIRHN. The decision marks a slender start to what is bound to be a volatile, but most crucial component of the peace process. The emotive and volatile Muslim issue dates back to 1990, when the LTTE ordered all Muslims in the northern Jaffna peninsula out, marking the commencement of ethnic cleansing. Last year, however, after the ceasefire agreement, the Tigers said Muslims were welcome back, but not much progress has been made on the ground. The pace of resettlement of Muslims in the north and east is a marker to the seriousness of the unfolding peace process as it has direct implications on the LTTE's long-time position of a Tamil homeland. Since September, when direct talks commenced, the LTTE has made shifts in this position saying that the north and east was the homeland of Tamils and Muslims. Though the two communities speak the Tamil language, decades of mistrust have separated them, with Muslims fearing their safety. During the present peace talks, there were expectations of a separate Muslim delegation, but the LTTE has said that political unity should precede any such representation. This position has not gone down well with the Muslim political leadership, who say that the Tigers are playing the same card that successive Governments had used against the Tamils.
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