LTTE sets more 'issues' for talks
Temporary deproscription and interim administration
likely
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) wants the Norwegian mediators
to sort out a catalogue of issues 'to create a conducive atmosphere' before
peace talks could begin at a venue in Thailand.
They include a total withdrawal of the economic embargo on guerrilla
dominated areas, lifting of all restrictions on fishing in the North, a
de-proscription of the LTTE and the setting up of an interim administration
in the North and East for a two year period.
The Sunday Times learns these issues were raised by the LTTE during
talks with Norwegian mediators, a prelude to the peace negotiations, in
Kilinochchi last Tuesday.
LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran led his team which comprised Anton
Balasingham, his wife Adele Anne and S.P. Thamil Chelvam, leader of the
Political Wing.
The Norwegian team comprised Erik Solheim, Norway's Ambassador Jon Westborg,
retired Norwegian Major General Trond Furohovde, head of the Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
The lengthy 'talks on talks' took place after the Norwegian team arrived
in Kilinochchi last Monday. Mr. Solheim and Mr. Westborg returned from
the Maldivian capital of Male, only last Sunday after receiving Dr. Balasingham
and his entourage who arrived there from Dubai.
At present, restrictions apply on the movement of goods to guerrilla
dominated areas. Only restricted quantities of diesel, petrol, cement and
iron rods are allowed. There is a total ban on six items — unlicensed arms/ammunition,
unlicensed explosives, remote controlled devices, barbed wire, binoculars/telescopes
and penlight batteries.
According to the Ceasefire Agreement, which both Prime Minister, Ranil
Wickreme-singhe and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, have signed, there
are restrictions on fishing activity in the North. This is what the Agreement
says:
"A gradual easing of fishing restrictions shall take place starting
from D-day. As of D-day plus 90, all restrictions on day and night fishing
shall be removed, subject to the following restriction: (i) fishing will
not be permitted within an area of one nautical mile on either side along
the coast and two nautical miles seawards from all security forces camps
on the coast; (ii) fishing will not be permitted in harbours or approaches
to harbours, bays and estuaries along the coast."
The LTTE has since early 2001 been demanding that it be deproscribed
as a precondition to any peace talks. It was proscribed after the bomb
attack on Sri Dalada Maligawa on January 25, 1998.
Though the LTTE has declared that it wants an interim administration,
this is the first time it has made it known that such a body should have
a two year life span.
The Sunday Times learns that Norwegian authorities will raise the LTTE's
catalogue of issues with the Government in the coming weeks.
According to official sources, the Government is expected to concede
the demand for de-proscription, at least for a temporary period.
Although the Government is to consider an interim administration, whether
the demand for a two-year period will meet Government approval remains
to be seen. So are the other issues like a total lifting of the economic
embargo and restrictions on fishing in the North.
These sources say the Government response will be conciliatory since
it believes the landslide victory at recent local council polls is an overwhelming
public endorsement of the peace process.
More details See Situation Report.
Hakeem says Muslims ignored
But pledges he won't damage peace process
By Nilika de Silva
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem at a meeting with Prime Minister
Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed disappointment that the Muslim community
had been ignored in the peace-making process so far, but has vowed not
to disturb the peace process.
Mr. Hakeem told The Sunday Times he cautioned the Prime Minister that
the Muslim community was disillusioned about being ignored in the peace-making
process.
"There is some disillusionment that the reference made to the Muslims
is in such a way as to lump them together with the residue," Hakeem said
referring to the cease-fire agreement between the government and the LTTE.
However, he pledged his party would act responsibly and would not damage
the peace process.
"We are not the JVP, we cannot act like the JVP. We need to take a responsible
stand," Mr. Hakeem said. "However, the price the Muslim community has to
pay for peace need not be a higher price than everybody else.".
Earlier in the week there were reports that Mr. Hakeem had written to
the Prime Minister, saying his days in the government were numbered. But
he denied writing such a letter.
However Mr. Hakeem who was listed to speak during the second reading
of the budget debate did not speak and instead allocated that time to Highways
Minister A.L.M. Attaulla.
Mr. Hakeem visited the Eastern Province during the weekend, reassuring
the apprehensive and restless Muslim community that their needs would be
met.
Confirming that the Eastern Province Muslims were becoming restive,
Mr. Hakeem said: "We believed the Eastern Province is a key to the peace
process,. Therefore concrete steps must be taken to enable its people to
have faith in the peace process."
"The international monitoring team must make its presence felt on the
ground. Complaints should be fully probed and highlighted," he said.
The SLMC high command also took up the matter and Mr. Hakeem assured
concerned members that every step would be taken to ensure the security
of the Muslims.
Make love, not war
With the bells of the ceasefire ringing aloud, the LTTE also appears to
be untying some nuptial knots.
Reports from LTTE-controlled areas say a spree of weddings have taken
place there over the past few weeks.
This came after the LTTE relaxed age restrictions for marriage among
its cadres. Now any male above 29 or female above 24 could get married
without obtaining any special dispensation.
Tigers keep others out of NE politics
By Ranjith Jayasundera in Vavuniya
Tamil Tigers have sent out messages to rival Tamil groups to keep off from
political activities in the north and east, but to carry on with their
'humanitarian' work till the Tigers themselves officially enter government-controlled
areas for political activities.
The warning has been sent out to rival Tamil militant groups through
LTTE area leaders, as they continue to surrender their weapons keeping
with the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE.
Militant groups officially declined to comment on the threat, but said
they had got the message to refrain from engaging in political activities
in north and eastern regions. The warnings have come amidst ground preparations
for the LTTE to enter the government controlled areas for 'political activities'
In Vavuniya, LTTE representatives who were due to enter the government-controlled
areas on Friday have put off their visit for Monday with a ceremony organised
by the Vavuniya business community to welcome the LTTE cadres at Omanthai,
the entry point from the LTTE-controlled area to the military controlled
area.
Over the week, large sums of money were being collected from businessmen
in the area to set the stage to accept the LTTE cadres for political activities.
Businessmen were being persuaded to pay sums varying from Rs. 10,000 upwards.
Rival Tamil militant groups have already expressed fears about their cadres
who are being disarmed.
Sri Lanka wins case against US power firm
By Laila Nasry
An international commercial court has held in favour of the Government
of Sri Lanka in an arbitration matter initiated by a US firm claiming damages
for US dollars 176.7 million (about Rs. 16.4 billion) over the aborted
Trincomalee coal power plant project.
The United States-based Mihaly International Corporation filed a claim
before the International Centre for the Settlement of Industrial Disputes
(ICSID) alleging that the Sri Lankan government had acted in bad faith
when it wrongfully repudiated the agreements involving the 300 MW power
project, and appealed for the granting of relief in the sum of US$ 6.78
million as costs to negotiate the project, US$ 120 million for loss of
profits and US$ 50 million, exemplary damages.
The government took up the preliminary objection with regard to jurisdiction,
stating that Sri Lanka had not consented in writing to submit the dispute
to the ICSID for arbitration. It also raised objections to Mihaly USA's
legal status to file the petition as the bidder was Mihaly International
Canada, which has no right to take the dispute to the ICSID, as Canada
had not ratified the ICSID convention.
In 1991, the government called for bids for a coal power project in
Trincomalee. Subsequent to an evaluation process, Mihaly Canada was chosen
for further negotiations for six months. A letter of agreement dated September
22, 1993 was issued by the government, expressing satisfaction of the progress
made in the project.
However prior to finalising the project, negotiations ran into difficulties,
resulting in the government requesting Mihaly Canada to forward letters
of commitment from its lenders and those taking up shares in the proposed
project. A Memorandum of Understanding outlined by the government in this
regard was one of the milestones Mihaly Canada was required to achieve.
Although the MOU was submitted, the government took up the position
that it was not sufficient commitment from the lenders and the debt and
equity participants. Mihaly Canada held the view that a firm commitment
could not be made until the project documents were finalised. As a result
of this deadlock, the exclusivity granted to Mihaly Canada for the coal
power project was terminated.
Robert N. Hornick, Saleem Marsoof PC, Rohan Perera PC, and Arjuna Obeysekera
appeared for the Sri Lankan government. |
