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By V.S. Sambandan
The proposals — described by Colombo's chief negotiator, G.L. Peiris, as a ``tentative'' but ``concrete set of suggestions'' — were conveyed to the LTTE leadership in the rebel-held Kilinochchi by the former Norwegian envoy to Sri Lanka, Jon Westborg. Declining to give details of the proposal, Prof. Peiris, however, said it was ``entirely in conformity with the laws of Sri Lanka''. The Government has also spelt out its thinking on the need for a separate Muslim team at the talks and a possible ``change in the format'' of the negotiations. The LTTE, which unilaterally suspended talks on April 21, has demanded an interim administrative mechanism ``outside'' Sri Lanka's unitary constitution if it is to resume negotiations. Colombo hopes today's proposals would form the ``basis for discussion'' as they set out the ``parameters'' for ``the provisional structure''. Emphasising that today's suggestions were ``by no means final'', Prof. Peiris said they were ``a very definitive basis on which the parties can get together''. Declining to spell out the proposals ``until the LTTE sees them and reacts to them'', Prof. Peiris, who is also Sri Lanka's Constitutional Affairs Minister, felt that today's suggestions ``warrant serious consideration'' by the Tigers. There were no immediate expectations by Colombo of a resumption of negotiations either. ``There must not be a sense of undue haste,'' Prof. Peiris said, adding: ``the LTTE will need'' to seek inputs from its ``resource personnel''.
Muslim team in talks
Prof. Peiris said it was ``necessary'' that a Muslim delegation was present at the talks. ``Muslim interests would have to be articulated,'' he said. Even before the commencement of the latest direct talks between the Government and the LTTE last September, the need for a separate Muslim team was raised. The LTTE had then agreed that the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Rauff Hakeem, would head a team. However, just before the talks commenced, several issues cropped up, delaying the participation of a Muslim team. The LTTE said such a team would be needed when issues concerning Muslims came up for discussion. The SLMC's view is that all subjects that come up at the negotiations regarding the northeast have a bearing on the Muslims. Muslims are spread across the three eastern districts — Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai. The Muslims in the northern Jaffna peninsula were ordered out by the LTTE in the early 1990s. Despite six rounds of talks between Colombo and the LTTE, a separate Muslim delegation remains elusive. In addition to the Muslim issue, Prof. Peiris said that it was the Government's thinking that ``it may be useful to have separate teams'' to discuss specific ``political, legal, developmental, humanitarian and security-related matters''. This suggestion for a change in the format of talks was based on the thinking that all members of the negotiating team need not be present at all discussions. The earlier suggestions of the Government, all rejected by the Tigers, include the creation of a development-oriented structure and district-level committees, with Special Commissioners, to address development work. The LTTE had made it clear that its demand was for a ``politico administrative mechanism'', with a majority stake for itself and ``outside the Sri Lankan constitution''. It also wanted Colombo to spell out the interim administration on offer before they agreed to resume talks.
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