The Hindu : `Colombo to try for consensus on solution'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 10, 2002

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National

`Colombo to try for consensus on solution'

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI Aug. 9. The Sri Lankan Government prefers to adopt a ``simultaneous approach'' in evolving a consensus on a solution to the ethnic crisis.

It wants to open negotiations with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and also work for a national consensus with the other political parties, notably the main opposition People's Alliance, according to the Foreign Minister, Tyronne Fernando.

He said the other approach of first evolving a `Sinhala consensus' before talking to the LTTE had failed last time.

``We reached substantial agreement on key issues of constitutional reforms with the then PA Government. It was because that Government wanted to rush the package to Parliament that it failed. The LTTE rejected the proposals because it was not consulted''.

Speaking to THE HINDU here, the visiting Foreign Minister said ``We want the LTTE to be part of the process from the very beginning. Only then can there be a solution, because they have to be part of the solution. They must be part of the process from Day One''.

Mr. Fernando agreed that talk of dissolving Parliament or holding a snap election after December 5 — when Parliament completes one year — ``was detrimental to the peace process''.

He said ``The purpose of our demand that the President should give up the arbitrary powers to dissolve Parliament one year after an election is to prevent another election right now. Some people in the President's group want her to use those powers to dissolve Parliament in December. We are confident that when the Prime Minister calls on the President this problem can be sorted out''.

He took pains to explain that the President had agreed with the Prime Minister on the essence of the peace process. She had also agreed that the LTTE could be de-proscribed once the dates for the talks are fixed.

``This is like a marriage. Sometimes there are quarrels. There is not enough communication. But you must remember that we need a consensus. Whatever we agree with the LTTE will need to be passed by Parliament with two-thirds majority and perhaps even a referendum'', the Minister noted.

Asked if the Government wanted a `parallel approach' directly with the LTTE, alongside Norway's `facilitation', Mr. Fernando said ``It has already happened. The fact that one of our Ministers involved in the peace process has already met Mr. Anton Balasingham only demonstrates that. And you must remember the meeting has taken place even before the LTTE is de-proscribed''.

The Minister said that both the Government and the LTTE were committed to the peace process.

The Government was ready with its team of negotiators — two Ministers, G.L. Peiris and Milinda Moragoda, a representative from the Muslim Congress and two senior officials from the peace secretariat. Apart from meeting the Minister, the LTTE's signal was ``Mr. Prabakaran giving up his battle fatigue and switching over to safari suits'', he added in a lighter vein.

Mr. Fernando said the peace negotiations would be a long drawn process.

``We have to go step by step, brick by brick. We have to remain engaged till the end. One step towards peace is the absence of war''.

The LTTE leader's talks with other Tamil parties, the Muslim Congress and the ``disciplining of Karikalan'' should also be seen in this context, he added.

He said there were elements like the JVP who would like to wreck the peace process.

But the people were ``war-weary'' and yearned for peace.

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