APRC good as dead: Sampathan

By Natasha Gunaratne

The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which recently adjourned with no future date set to meet again is as good as dead, according to Trincomalee District Parliamentarian and Parliamentary group alliance of Tamil parties’ leader R. Sampanthan. Speaking at the ‘9th Business for Peace Forum’, organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), last week Mr. Sampanthan said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had readily acknowledged that he did not invite the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to participate in the APRC.

Mr. Sampanthan

The President had further cast aside the proposals set forth by the 15 member committee of experts (made up of 10 Sinhalese, four Tamils and one Muslim) appointed to guide the APRC, which could have been the basis for further dialogue and a chance for the parties to explore the option of federalism, he said.

Mr. Sampanthan said that during the tenures of past leaders such as S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and Chandrika Kumaratunga, the public discerned that some progress was being made regarding the ethnic conflict. However with the current government, the position is being reversed.

He said there was a ‘subtle form of ethnic cleansing’ taking place in the East. Having declared that his intention was to flush out the LTTE or terrorists, the President had also flushed out 300,000 Tamil citizens, destroying their homes, farms and their livelihood potential. Furthermore, 300 Tamils have been killed in contravention of international humanitarian law. The President had also declared a high security zone in which 16,000 Tamils live, he said.

Mr. Sampanthan said that if the President really wanted to retrieve Tamils from the hands of the LTTE, he would have allowed them to return and live on their land. The development programme for the East is a matter of great concern for Tamils.“Why the sudden passionate love for the Eastern Province?” Mr. Sampanthan asked.

No Tamil or Muslim Parliamentarians from the area have been consulted, including Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem. Additionally, funds have been sought from various multi-lateral agencies for the rebuilding of the East with no consultation from Tamil and Muslim Parliamentarians, he said.

Mr. Sampanthan said he believed the Government had ulterior objectives based on how matters were being handled in the Eastern Province, which is raising great doubts in the Government's sincerity and commitment to peace. He said Sri Lanka was perhaps becoming the most militarized state in the world, based on the percentage of military expenditure of the GDP. Furthermore, military expenditure in 2007 has doubled since 2005.

Mr. Sampanthan said Sri Lanka was focused on a military agenda and the Government seemed to think that the answer to the ethnic problem involved a military solution.“Peace can never be brought on by war,” he said urging the business community to approach politicians and take the peace process forward through a fruitful dialogue.

APRC to meet next week?

By Shelani Perera

The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) will have a series of meetings next week in a bid to reach a consensus among the political parties on the final report. The parties which were scheduled to finalise the report last week, re-scheduled the meeting for next week as several issues needed to be discussed.

APRC chairman Tissa Vitharana told The Sunday Times, that the committee has argued on most of the issues relating to devolution.“About 80% of the contents have been agreed on by all the parties. We are hoping to meet next week and sort out the other issues,” he said.

Among the main issues the parties have agreed on is the unit of devolution which was to be a province while the administration was to be done at district level, with return to the Westminster form of Parliament. Minister Vitharana said the main stumbling block on reaching an agreement was on devolution.

“There is a fear among the parties on devolution. The parties feel that once devolution is introduced it would be abused thus paving the way for separation. So we have to adopt some safeguards and settle this issue,” he said.

While commending all political parties on their participation, the minister said the UNP was taking a very unreasonable stand by not attending the meetings.“The UNP wants the Government to come to a common stand after which it would join, but from the start it was agreed that the parties give their proposals on an individual basis. It was never agreed that the Government should give its proposals first and then the Opposition. I have been sending a copy to the UNP representative Mr. N.K. Choksy after each meeting. Hopefully the UNP will join us,” said minister Vitharana.

However, another issue regarding the deadline set by the UNP has come up. While minister Vitharana stated that a deadline was the end of August, the UNP said the deadline was August 15.“We have informed the party regarding its deadline. We hope the UNP will rejoin the committee,” he said. The minister added that once the report is finalised, it will be handed over to the President.

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