Thursday, May 15, 2003
Thursday, May 15, 2003 |
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By V.S. Sambandan
The two immediate demands are on creating formal structures for reconstruction and the de-escalation of the northern High Security Zones (HSZs). On May 7, after a failed bid to make the Tigers consent to participate in the Tokyo meeting, the Japanese special envoy, Yasushi Akashi, said the LTTE wanted the Government to meet its basic demands within a week. Mr. Akashi had also told the Tigers that they would have to convey their decision within a week, to enable Tokyo plan the conference, scheduled to be held between June 9 and 10. The pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which met the LTTE's political wing chief, S.P. Tamilchelvam in rebel-held Kilinochchi on Tuesday said the Tigers ``deem it necessary that firm administrative, financial and other structures, with adequate powers need to be established for the reconstruction of the northeast and to rehabilitate and restore normal civilian life''. The Sub-committee for Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN), which was formed during the peace talks, "does not serve this purpose'' the TNA said, pointing out that the North East Reconstruction Fund had "not yet become operational''. In a statement, published in the TAMILNET, the Alliance said the LTTE was ``firmly committed to the pursuit of a negotiated political solution'' and that it ``will extend its full co-operation to the furtherance of the peace process ''. The LTTE "is of the view that before it participates in the Tokyo Aid Conference, the administrative, financial and other structures with adequate powers need to be established in order to reconstruct the northeast and to rehabilitate and restore normal civilian life in the northeast''. The need to relocate army camps in the northeast "in order to enable the resettlement of displaced Tamil civilians'' was also emphasised, the statement said, adding that the "TNA will endeavour to have the above matters addressed early''.
Petersen meets Ranil
The final word on the latest impasse may not yet be out as the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jan Petersen, who arrived in Colombo early today in a bid to defuse the deadlock met the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe today. He is scheduled to travel to rebel-held Kilinochchi tomorrow to discuss the stalemate with the LTTE leadership. Mr. Petersen's visit comes after a week of high-profile meetings in Kilinochchi. Apart from Mr. Akashi, Oslo's special envoy, Erik Solheim and the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgessen, held discussions with the LTTE leadership, but there have been no signs of change yet. According to indications, the LTTE is unlikely to reconsider its decision, taken on April 21 to unilaterally suspend negotiations and to stay away from Tokyo, unless there is some move on its immediate demands on a formal reconstruction mechanism and the de-escalation of HSZs.
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