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LTTE now wants new and redefined agenda
LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham has declared that further discussions on the peace process could only proceed if 'specifc and concrete' proposals are received from the government regarding its demand for an interim administration.

Dr. Balasingham was reacting to comments made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding the proposed interim administration where the premier had said the government was prepared to work around the constitutional restrictions.

"As far as an adequate interim administrative structure is concerned - in principle I don't think there's a difference," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.
Dr. Balasingham reacting to the comments told the pro-LTTE Tamilnet website that future negotiations with the Sri Lankan government would have to be conducted on the basis of a "new and redefined agenda".

Referring to the comments by the Prime Minister, Dr. Balasingham said, "statements of mere intent are no basis of negotiations" "We have already discussed the concept (of an interim administration) as long time ago. What is needed now are specific and concrete proposals that set out the details," he said.

Meanwhile, the LTTE rejected a last minute offer by the government to send a special delegation for talks to sort out disputes so that the Tamil Tigers could take part in the Tokyo aid conference, officials said.

They said the Prime minister's office had offered to send special team, but the LTTE had insisted on a guarantee from the Norwegian facilitators regarding the setting up of an interim administration.

After turning down the government's offer, LTTE's political Wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan said they saw little purpose in meeting a delegation which might not be able to implement any pledges that were given.

Despite the boycott by the LTTE, some of the biggest aid donors have pledged that their aid packages would not be reduced. USAID Deputy Administrator Frederick Schiek who visited flood-hit districts and Jaffna before leaving for the Tokyo meeting said the US aid package would remain in tact thought the LTTE was sending wrong signals by staying out of the Tokyo conference.

British High Commissioner Margaret Tounge and officials of several embassies, including those of France and the Netherlands, also gave similar pledges saying their levels of aid and representation at the Tokyo meeting would not be affected by the LTTE's absence.

The host Japan has given a mixed reaction, saying the conference would go ahead with or without the LTTE, but expressing concern about aid packages if donors were not convinced about commitment to the peace process.

There was no clear word, however, from India regarding its level of aid or representation. Diplomats said New Delhi was waiting for a final word from the LTTE before deciding on whom to send. India sent a low-level representative to the Oslo aid meeting which was attended by the LTTE but it sent a high-level delegation to the Washington meeting from which the LTTE was kept out.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar on Friday said he was 'disturbed' and 'angered' over the tone of the letter sent by LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham to Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Mr. Kadirgamar said that though he was in opposite camps (with the Prime Minister) it was wrong to use such language to an elected leader. He said that the letter was following an approach similar to one adopted by a school master.
Mr. Kadirgamar said he was disturbed at the way the LTTE chief negotiator was dealing with the sovereign government of Sri Lanka.

He was referring to the letter sent by Dr. Balasingham to the Prime Minister on Wednesday where the LTTE insisted that it wanted a detailed draft proposal regarding its demand for an interim administration to reconsider resumption of talks.

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