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LTTE firm on ISGA first
By Chris Kamalendran
The LTTE at different times is putting forward different conditions to resume peace talks. What is the current position?
We do not impose conditions as such. These are only the reflections of the people. As sole representatives of the Tamil people it is our duty to win the rights of our people. If we do not put forward their demands we can't justify ourselves. But these are not conditions by the LTTE. The current position is that our ISGA proposal is before the government.

The LTTE has declared that the institutionalisation of the ISGA is a necessity to proceed with the peace process. Is this a demand to resume talks?
Sri Lanka's constitution does not contain powers to solve our problems. We need to have a mechanism. That is why we need to first establish or institutionalise the ISGA. While the ISGA is in operation we can talk about a final solution. This could be done while the ISGA serves the people. The ISGA is a must to serve the people who have been badly affected by 20 years of war. For the last 50 years so many negotiations have been held and agreements signed, but little has practically reached the people. Therefore we believe the ISGA is the practical way for benefits to reach the public. By the time we come to a situation of reaching a final settlement most of the problems would have been solved through the ISGA.

Does this mean the ISGA is a must to resume talks.
That is a must. We will not change our position on that. The reason for that is there were so many sub committees formed after the cease-fire agreement was signed but they are defunct now. The people are not getting benefits. So this proves that these sub committees and agreements are of little purpose. Thus we need the ISGA.

When the LTTE released its proposals on the ISGA in November last year you told a news conference it was only a proposal.Your organisation was ready to discuss them, but now the LTTE has gone beyond this stand. You want it implemented. Why have you changed positions drastically ?
It is true that the ISGA was submitted as a proposal. We are calling to establish it now because the immediate needs of the people have not been met. We have studied similar conflicts in other countries and whenever a solution has been reached there have been similar interim administrative arrangements. Therefore what we are asking is not unusual. If you take the reality 65 to 75 percent of the north and east is under the control of the LTTE. We have a de facto state. Therefore that reality should be accepted by the government.

What is the last feedback you have got from the government about the ISGA proposals?
We have not got a positive response from the government. Two weeks ago Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgeson visited us. We did not get a positive response even from him. We reiterated our position, but no response has come from the government so far. No satisfactory answers have been given to us. We will stick to our original position.

Minister Mangala Samaraweera has announced that fresh proposals are being drafted.
We have seen all these reports in the media. But officially we have not been informed . I do not know how effective these fresh proposals would be.

But are you willing to consider such fresh proposals?
It is after studying so many events in the past that we have drafted the ISGA proposals. We have amended our previous proposals. If the government prepares proposals it will not fulfil the aspirations of people whereas we belive our proposals will fulfil their needs. Governments in the south have not been able to prepare proposals that suits the needs of the people here.

But are you willing to consider fresh proposals from the government?
Our proposals submitted to the government has been endorsed by a mandate from the Tamil people. The TNA asked for such a mandate so we can talks based on this mandate only. Our leadership is firm on the proposals given. We can't comment on what the government will come up with.

The JVP which is part of the government has been campaigning against the ISGA. Your response ?
The problem is not ours. These actions could push us towards a war situation. If they are raising voices to deny the rights of Tamil people, and if the President listens to them it could lead towards a war situation. The government should have a clear cut policy explaining that it is willing to solve our people’s problems. The government should not listen to anti-Tamil opinions. It should be firm. It is up to the government to get the support of the JVP.

But the JVP represents an important segment of the government. Could this be ignored or would it be possible to convince the party?
The JVP, even before it joined the coalition was talking against the peace process. Even before elections it took up that position. President Kumaratunga knew the JVP's stand but yet went ahead to get its support. It is the President who helped the JVP to get to a strong position. Therefore it is her duty to convince them.

Do you believe the President could get the support of the JVP?
It is the President's duty and responsibility.

One of the latest LTTE demands to return to the negotiating table is that the government should stop all connections with renegade leader Karuna. Has this changed?
For the government to have links with Karuna is not a healthy situation for the peace process. Particularly with the support of the Sri Lankan Army to have connections is not good. The aim of Karuna's group is to disrupt normalcy.If the government is coming forward for the peace process genuinely it should not get involved with Karuna. That could hamper the peace process.

What about your condition that the government should stop all links with Karuna.
Yes that is also a condition because the government links with Karuna could seriously affect the peace process.

But the Government is denying links with Karuna?
Though the government is denying any links with Karuna there is no indication that the Army has severed its links with Karuna. The army has been involved in killings in Batticaloa. According to the Cease-Fire agreement signed in February 2002, other armed groups cannot be allowed to function in Batticaloa. It is the government's responsibility to stop the killings taking place in Batticaloa.

It is reported that the LTTE is involved in the killings. Over the past two weeks more than 20 killings have been reported. What do you say?
We deny LTTE members have been responsible. We believe that a faction of Karuna's group is responsible for these killings. Even the killings at Kottawa were carried out by another splinter group.

But that is not accepted by many. There is evidence to suggest that the LTTE is responsible for the killings in the east?
The LTTE is not responsible. These killings are taking place in the government controlled areas. This is due to a further split in Karuna's group. The agenda of these groups is to destabilize the situation.

Do you admit that Karuna's group is a threat to your organisation and how do you hope to overcome this situation?
The situation in areas under us in Batticaloa is under control. These incidents take place in government controlled areas. But the government has not been able to control the situation. Karuna's group is not a threat to the LTTE but certainly a threat to the peace process.

How do you hope to overcome this problem?
That is not our problem. We can handle any situation . It is the responsibility of the government to control the situation. It is not only Karuna's group that is being helped by the Army. A government minister Douglas Devananda is also helping Karuna. It can worsen the situation.

Mr. Devananda is a minister of President Kumaratunga's cabinet and her government has declared that it is committed to the peace process. Your comments?
This is a clear indication that the President is not honest. How can the government deny that it is not helping Karuna. Mr. Devananda who is part of the Cabinet is helping Karuna. This shows the President's double standards. The government's double standards are further proved as it has given an important position to Mr. Devananda. This is a contradiction` within the government which wants to restart talks.

Have you taken up the Devananda issue with the Norwegian facilitators? Yes. The government's actions do not support its claim that it is ready to start talks, though it tries to blame the LTTE for delaying the talks.

Is the Devananda issue also delaying the talks?
We do not want to link this issue with resuming peace talks. But this issue can affect the cease-fire agreement. We also have a fear that if this situation continues the whole peace process will collapse.

Mr. Helgesen after his recent talks expressed serious concern about the stalemate in the peace process. Are you also concerned?
We too are concerned about the stalemate. According to section 1.8 of the ceasefire agreement, no other armed group can operate in the north and east. But the government has allowed another armed group to operate in Batticaloa.
That is a dangerous trend. The people's confidence has been shaken. Our aim is to find a solution as soon as possible. This stalemate could lead to a dangerous situation and it is worsening by the day.

Mr. Helgessen said that the war had only frozen due to the Cease-fire and it is now 'beginning to melt at the edges'.Any comment?
It is difficult to maintain this peaceful atmosphere without restarting talks. If you want to have peace you have to resume negotiations.
It is difficult to go on this way. The dialogue between the two sides is necessary. The current stalemate is dangerous.

Shouldn't the LTTE also share responsibility?
No. We have given strict orders to our cadres not to violate the Ceasefire Agreement.
Minister Samaraweera said that the government has shown flexibility and commitment and the LTTE should do the same.

It is pointless talking of flexibility without action. The LTTE has put forward its demands expecting a respectable solution. As far as we are concerned we are flexible.
The government is not responding to our demands and showing its flexibility. Governments have been changing their positions. Our position has been the same.

The LTTE has been repeatedly accused by the UNICEF and others of recruiting child soldiers.
For the past two and a half years normality has not returned. There has been no programme implemented for children to improve their welfare. No programmes for the rehabilitation of children. Underage children are continuously coming to join us.

g Are you admitting that children are joining or that you have child recruits?
Yes. But these children are coming voluntarily. This is due to the absence of a proper rehabilitation programme.

But the UNICEF has accused you of releasing child soldiers and recruiting them again ? Have you explained your position to the UNICEF?
Last month we returned 34 children, but two weeks later most of these children came back. Now the LTTE is directly involved in rehabilitation work.
We have explained the position and also given a master plan on child rehabilitation to the UNICEF. We are expecting the UNICEF to discuss the matter with us.

Some say that you continue to recruit children because Karuna's issue has affected recruitment.
Irrespective of Karuna's problems, we have been able to maintain our strength. The cadres who Karuna disbanded are coming back and re-joining us.

The ceasefire has lasted 31 months. Don't you admit that life has improved?
There has been not that much of an improvement. The problem of unemployment is high. The people have not been able to return to their homes so far.

The Eelanathan published in Kilinochchi this week said that the President had reportedly told a foreign media agency that she wants a direct dialogue with the LTTE. Any comments?
I can't comment about her statements. From time to time and day to day the President changes her position. In 1995 we had direct talks with the President and the talks failed. It is better to have a facilitator.

Does the President's changing stand affect the peace process?
The current situation shows the inability of the President to take a firm decision on the peace process.

Given this situation do you foresee a threat of the country sliding back to war ?
We are willing to find a solution through a dialogue, but if the war is forced on us we would have no option.

Kilinochchi coming alive despite peace deadlock
By Anthony David
The LTTE's newly formed elite motorbike squad hits the roads of Kilinochchi every morning. Its task, to carryout checks on roads and culverts to ensure their rivals have not infiltrated and planted explosives.

This operation has been stepped up following the rivalry with renegade regional leader, Karuna intensifying over the past few months. Other than the high state of alert by LTTE cadres, life goes on for the people of Kilinochchi.

There are signs that the people are enjoying some benefits of the ceasefire, although the LTTE says the people have gained little from the truce. There are no large scale development projects or major constructions taking place but people admit that life has changed since the lull in the war. Kilinochchi district has seen some of the worst battles between the LTTE and the Army and the people have been displaced many times. "Now we have better access to hospitals and if the need arises we can go to Vavuniya or Jaffna or even to Colombo," says a retired government servant, Kanapathipillai Vadivale.

With the restrictions on food, medicines and other essentials lifted more than two years ago, the cost of living has dropped significantly. A litre of kerosene which sold at nearly Rs. 300, now sells at Rs. 32. Most of the other essentials are almost in par with the prices in Colombo. Sugar and Samba rice are sold at Rs. 42 a kilo, while all milk foods are almost the same price as in Colombo. A few years ago the prices were double or more.

We spoke to some farmers working in their fields and they said they were happy that fertilizers and pesticides that were once restricted items were now accessible. Garage-owners were also back in full swing with the restrictions on metal and welding equipment lifted. Electronic items including CD and DVD players were also on sale.

Thirty- two- year- old G.Yoagaraja runs a successful tailoring shop in town and he has six people working under him. He reopened his tailoring shop four years ago and today business is booming and he gets about 10 orders a day.

"My goal is to open a textile shop soon. We have been able to benefit from the cease-fire as travelling is easier and the restrictions have been removed," says Yogaraja.

The Kilinochchi hospital that was badly damaged due to heavy fighting is back in operation and it treats about 600 outdoor patients and can admit about 300 patients to the wards. The District Medical Officer, Dr. R. Sivananthan says they could provide a better service if they had more facilities including equipment, more medicines and additional staff. The four-bed new Intensive Care Unit that was built with Japanese funds needs more staff to begin operations he said. The strain on the hospital has been reduced as the LTTE has setup its own clinics to provide basic medical facilities to people.

Inspite of there being increased interaction between civilians in the uncleared areas and cleared areas, the LTTE has a firm grip on the people. Shop keepers, vendors and businessmen strictly follow instructions given to them by the LTTE when it comes to maintaining accounts and paying. At a communication centre, signatures are obtained from all those who take calls. Vendors at the main market place pay five per cent tax of the total value of their products to the LTTE.

The sale of videos or VCDs are strictly controlled and screened by the LTTE to ensure that culturally harmful material does not reach uncleared areas. Posters put up by sales representatives from the south advertising their brands of milk food, soap, powder, plastic items and roofing material are painted over with black oil though the sale of these products are not prohibited. A businessman said that he believed that the LTTE did not want these items advertised in areas coming under its control.

Over the past few months more houses are being reconstructed with hundreds of displaced people beginning to return home. "I have more work now compared to a year back," says tractor driver K.Kathiresan (42). Although the quality of life maybe improving for these people, the lack of employment opportunities is a problem. Many of them have to depend on self-employment or engage in farming.

The restaurants operating at nights have been another indication that life has changed with the cease-fire in operation. But, from the LTTE's point of view the achievements gained during the truce is minimal. After many years of war, major rehabilitation projects are yet to get underway while health and educational facilities need to be improved much more.

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