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The Sunday Times document authentic
Government spokesman Prof. G.L.Peiris claimed that the proposals on a provisional administrative structure sent to Kilinochchi last Thursday through Norwegian envoy Jon Westborg did not have substantial changes from the initial draft given to President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Prof. Peiris told the weekly Cabinet news conference that the proposals published in The Sunday Times were the final proposals sent to the LTTE.Following are Prof. Peiris' comments:

"I think it is necessary for me to clarify certain factual matters. The government submitted to the Norwegian envoy Jon Westborg a set of proposals as a basis of discussion with the LTTE about a provisional administrative structure. These are proposals prepared by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and they were incorporated in a document which we handed over to the Norwegian facilitator".

" There were several discussions between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Norwegian facilitator in respect of the content of the document. The Norwegian facilitator asked several questions, sought clarifications. “We gave answers to those questions and the government then asked the Norwegian facilitator to prepare his own document - the Norwegian document, incorporating the thinking and the proposals of the GOSL.

"The clarifications that we gave the Norwegians were incorporated in the document that was prepared by Mr. Westborg. The Norwegian facilitator then made his draft available to us, and the Government endorsed that draft. We said that was an accurate description of the proposals that we had made to the Norwegian facilitator.

That is the document that Mr. Westborg took to Kilinochchi last Thursday and handed over to Mr. Thamilselvan. That is the text of the document which has appeared in the public domain - the document that was published in one of the Sunday newspapers last week is the text of the document that the Norwegian facilitator handedover to the LTTE in Kilinochchi. That is the complete text, there is nothing else. It has not been added to or modified in any way.

"The document which the Sri Lanka government prepared and handed over to the Norwegian facilitator, was previous to that, not subsequent to that. I want to make that very clear. That is the document that we prepared and gave the Norwegian facilitator, before the preparation of the Norwegian document which was handed over to the LTTE in Kilinochchi. The Norwegian one incorporates our proposals.

"Our proposals were prepared beforehand and given to Mr. Westborg earlier. There was nothing that was prepared, nothing that was changed after the document that was published last week, was handed over to the LTTE in Kilinochchi. So that is the authentic document. It is the complete document. It has not been changed in any way and that is the only document that is in the hands of the LTTE. So it is that document that is being considered by the LTTE at this time. I want to make that very clear.

"As far as the progress is concerned we have every reason to be satisfied that the process is moving forward. The developments are positive. I cannot comment any further on the content or the substance of the proposal because in our view that will be appropriate only after we receive a response from the LTTE.

"You will recall that was exactly the way the ceasefire agreement was prepared. The agreement that was signed on 22nd February was prepared exactly the same way. There were proposals from the government, there were proposals from the LTTE. The mandate of the Norwegian facilitator was to bring these together to secure a meeting of minds to narrow down the differences between the parties and to prepare their own document on the basis of proposals which have been submitted by the GOSL and the LTTE.

"That was the method adopted in preparing the ceasefire agreement signed in February last year and which has lasted on the ground without any interruption for 18 months. That is the same method that we're using on this occasion. “The final point which I want to emphasise is that this document which has been handed over to the LTTE and which is now being considered by the LTTE is a basis for discussion.

The final proposals with regard to the establishment of the provisional administrative structure will be prepared after the GOSL has had the opportunity of having a discussion face to face with the LTTE. We have every confidence that that discussion will take place in due course."

We will study all the papers
Criticising the government for sending one set of proposals to the President and another to the LTTE on the interim administration for the North-East, Presidential Advisor Lakshman Kadirgamar addressing an Opposition news conference on Friday said he was sad that hide and seek games were being played over a complex problem that affected the destiny of this country.
Excerpts:

Q:What is the motive of the government in having two sets of proposals?
A: I don't know what the motive is. I find it very strange. If the document which was sent to the LTTE by Ambassador (Jon) Westborg to the Wanni on the 17th excluded those vital sections, how is it that the next day the Prime Minister himself signs a letter? Not a letter from a clerk. The PM himself signs saying, 'I am sending you herewith the document which Mr. Westborg was asked to take to the Wanni.' And then he says, the two of us, that is the Government and the LTTE are going to be tight lipped until an agreement is reached. And then there are two documents. I am really at a loss to understand this, and I cannot dismiss this lightly or explain it as an administrative mishap where somebody has given the wrong document. I don't think so, especially if the PM signs. I don't see how a wrong document can be sent out.

Q: Do you think the document which was leaked to the press and carried in this paper last week was not the correct one and if so, was it a deliberate ploy to play down the real one ?
A: Well, you are asking me to speculate. I don't mind speculating, but I don't know if it is right to do so. I must confess that the thought crossed my mind. I understand that the government spokesperson said there was really no difference between the two documents and that it was only a matter of dots and comas.
The question of powers of security, police, land and revenue being a dot or a coma, is baffling and the explanation given by the spokesperson makes it more complicated .

Q: But why did the government send one copy to the President and another to the LTTE? Do you think it was a move by the government to find out if there was a mole in the President's Office who would leak it to the media?
A: You mean this is the bait for the mole. But this is an enormously complex problem, affecting the destiny of the country. I am sad to see this kind of hide and seek at this rather grave hour.

Q: In both sets of proposals the provision for the opposition role in the administration has been mentioned. What are your views?
A: We have decided not to go into detail today. We have begun a study and in due course we will come out with a detailed analysis. But let me say this. Yes, an interim administration, one day, is necessary if you are moving to a final solution.
You have the contents for a final solution, everything is signed, then you need some start-up time. But you can't plunge into a brand new Constitution, that is what interim means. This whole approach of putting an interim administration is like putting the cart before the horse.

We don't agree with the manner in which it was done. In that context it is like telling the opposition almost through The Sunday Times that there is a seat for you. That is discourteous. These are parliamentary democracies and there are certain norms of conduct . If the government wants to offer the opposition something in the parliamentary set-up, it must discuss it. Instead we wake up one Sunday morning and see it in the newspaper that we are supposed to sit in the Council.

Q: The government spokesperson said proposals which were published in The Sunday Times was the final one. Is that the one the party is going to comment on ?
A: I don't know whether we should go on the basis of what the spokesperson said or the letter sent by the Prime Minister. If you ask me whose version would you like to read, I would decline to answer. But as good students we will study all the papers in front of us and we will draw an alternative analysis.

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