JVP threatens to pull out of govt. if talks start on ISGA

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on Friday informed the government that it will pull out of the administration if President Chandrika Kumaratunga agrees to commence peace talks with the LTTE based on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA).

The JVP's decision was arrived at a meeting of its top rank Friday evening and immediately conveyed to President Kumaratunga through several ministers.

The JVP's top rank met following reports Friday morning that President Kumaratunga had at a meeting with the 22 MPs of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) agreed to commence negotiations with the LTTE on the ISGA without having parallel discussions on core issues.

TNA parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan speaking Friday morning on MTV's 'Good Morning Sri Lanka' programme following the Thursday night meeting with the President revealed Kumaratunga had clearly stated she was now prepared to commence talks with the LTTE on the basis of the ISGA proposals whilst also agreeing to take up the core issues only after an agreement is reached on the ISGA.

The President had earlier insisted that the agenda for the talks must not only include negotiations on ISGA proposals but also the core issues while LTTE insisted on institutionalizing the ISGA before proceeding to discuss the core issues, resulting in the peace process being stalled and the donor community threatening to go elsewhere with the US dollars 4.5 billion aid package.

The President's shifting policy revealed to the TNA MPs on Thursday followed a collective decision by the joint opposition of Parliament 24 hours earlier to act against the government as a collective force following Tuesday's battle in the House.

The Patriotic National Movement, which has the support of several JVP and SLFP members including Deputy Minister of Tourism Arjuna Ranatunga and Wimal Weerawansa, had earlier in a statement said they would oppose tooth and nail any move to commence negotiations with the LTTE based on ISGA.

The JVP Friday night also informed the government that if President Kumaratunga were to communicate to the LTTE her decision to negotiate the ISGA through the Norwegians they would immediately withdraw from the government.

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