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CBK rejects JVP demands on MoU
By Harinda Vidanage
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has shot down demands by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna for the immediate abrogation of the government-LTTE ceasefire agreement, cancellation of Norwegian facilitation in the peace process and the expulsion of Scandinavian truce montiors.

The JVP had wanted to place these demands as part of provisions to be incorporated in the proposed joint agreement forming a political alliance. While rejecting the JVP demands as unacceptable, President Kumaratunga, as leader of the PA, is learnt to have agreed to jointly review with the JVP the contents of the ceasefire agreement, the role of Norwegian facilitation and the future of the SLMM.
The finalisation of the joint agreement now awaits a formal ratification by the JVP of an offer for its nominee to serve as national organiser in the proposed coalition.

The President on Thursday formally offered the JVP the position of national organizer in the proposed coalition between the two sides in a bid to salvage the ongoing negotiations which was hit by conflicts.

The offer was made at a meeting between President Kumaratunga and a JVP delegation. The President had said the post of national organiser would have wide powers, including the organising of the coalition's activities at national level. The JVP delegation led by General Secretary Tilvyn Silva had not declined the offer but told the president that they would consider the offer and respond to it.

The offer had been made to settle the crisis that had emerged over the positions in the coalition after the SLFP insisted that it should hold the key positions of president and general secretary of the alliance.

Initially the post of national organizer was created to accommodate the President herself while appointing a JVP member as the president of the coalition and an SLFP member as the General Secretary. But SLFP seniors later insisted that the main opposition party should have both top posts.

At Thursday's meeting, the JVP also wanted the President to make clear her stand on the government's move to offer an interim North-East administration to the LTTE. Presidential spokesman Harim Peiris, when asked how the President responded to that question, said it was premature to make clear comments on such issues and reiterated the President's position that a wider political agreement should be reached first.

Commenting on the new alliance, Mr. Peiris said there should be no doubt that the President would be the leader and would play an active role. The Sunday Times learns that former minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who earlier played a key role in the talks with the JVP had met the President and protested that the JVP was now launching attacks on him. He wanted the President to take up this issue.

Presidential sources said that when the President brought up the matter, the JVP had claimed that it had no media channel to Mr. Siripala de Silva. Another significant feature of Thursday's meeting was that the President was accompanied by party general secretary Maithripala Sirisena instead of those who normally took part in the negotiations.

JVP propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa told The Sunday Times that Thursday's meeting was successful and he hoped the next round of talks would be held this week.

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