The Hindu : Include disarming of LTTE in talks, says SLFP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 14, 2002

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International

Include disarming of LTTE in talks, says SLFP

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO. DEC. 13. Sri Lanka's main Opposition party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), today urged the early inclusion of the sensitive issue of disarming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the negotiations.

The SLFP, in its reaction to the Oslo agreement, wanted the Government to "insist that talks regarding the decommissioning of arms by the LTTE commence and proceed in parallel with other negotiations and not be delayed until a final agreement is signed".

Such issues, the Senior Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs, Lakshman Kadirgamar, told a press conference, could not be delayed any longer and would have to be taken up. In addition, the reality of the LTTE's military strength would also have to be addressed, he said, demanding clarifications on the progress made at the Oslo talks earlier this month.

The party, which is credited with commencing the latest peace process, was, however, still hesitant to respond to the agreement, which said that Colombo and the Tigers would explore federal models to find a solution within a united Sri Lanka.

Expressing doubts about what the LTTE's present position would mean at the ground level, Mr. Kadirgamar raised the question whether the present structure of the Tigers — with military and administrative structures - seen with the latest position could mean a "separate state by a friendlier name".

Comparing the Oslo agreement with the November 27 speech of the

LTTE leader, V. Prabakaran, he said the questions that arise include the meaning of phrases such as "political status", "self-determination", and "complete self-rule". Moreover, he wanted to know whether the LTTE had abandoned the concept of a "traditional homeland" or whether the use of the phrase "areas of historical habitation of the Tamil people" was a mere "shuffling of words".

The Opposition, Mr. Kadirgamar said, "will certainly support all genuine endeavours to find a solution to the ethnic question that satisfies the aspirations of all the communities in Sri Lanka". However, it would not endorse a "fait accompli" if presented by the Government.

The SLFP said the draft constitution proposals by the Kumaratunga administration should be considered. "The confusion that seems to reign at present regarding the possible political and constitutional alternatives to Eelam may be cleared if these proposals are closely studied," it added.

Concern over VoT

The party expressed concern over the Voice of Tigers (VoT) acquiring radio transmission facilities through Norway, which, it said, could transmit into southern India, violating the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. Norway was "no longer neutral" in the conflict-resolution process, it added.

There has been a continued silence by the Government to charges that the transmission equipment was brought into Sri Lanka as a consignment to the Norwegian embassy here and then sent to the LTTE, who run the clandestine VoT.

`Indian dimension'

Essentially an affair involving the Sri Lankan Government, the Opposition and the facilitators, Norway, the matter has assumed an Indian dimension, with the SLFP charge that the latest equipment could transmit into southern India.

In terms of the annexure to the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, the two countries "reaffirm their decision not to allow our respective territories to be used for activities prejudicial to each other's unity, territorial integrity and security".

The specific issue of broadcasting figured then amid concerns over the use of the Voice of America facilities. Against that backdrop, the annexure also said: "Sri Lanka's agreement with foreign broadcasting organisations will be reviewed to ensure that any facilities set up by them in Sri Lanka are used solely as public broadcasting facilities and not for any military or intelligence purposes''.

The Opposition spokesperson, Amunugama, said he would not rule out the possibility of the LTTE's latest transmission facilities being used for military purposes and said the party would raise the issue in Parliament.

The former Media Minister and chief Opposition whip, Mangala Samaraweera, termed the import of the transmitters as an "illegal activity" and criticised Norway for its role.

Sri Lankan laws permit private radio stations, but they would have to seek a permit from the media Ministry as well as allocation from the Telecom Regulatory Authority, he said, adding that unless these were obtained, it would not be possible to import such equipment.

Against this backdrop, the consignment to the Norwegian embassy would have by-passed this requirement, but any duty exemption would lapse if it was given to a third party.

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