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Resumption
of talks only on the basis of Tigers' ISGA
LTTE
will not accept govt. proposals
The
LTTE will agree to the resumption of peace talks only on the basis
of its Interim Self Governing Authority proposals and will not
accept any proposal from the government also to form the basis for
talks, The Sunday Leader learns.
A
team of government lawyers on Thursday, August 12, formulated a set
of counter proposals for an interim administration and submitted
them to the Director General, Peace Secretariat, Jayantha Dhanapala.
Following
the JVP's threat to withdraw from the government if President
Chandrika Kumaratunga resumes talks with the LTTE based only on the
ISGA, she designated a team of lawyers to formulate a set of counter
proposals to be presented to the LTTE through the Norwegians.
The
President's move is aimed at having both the LTTE's ISGA proposals
as well as that of the government at the negotiating table for the
resumption of talks to overcome the JVP's demand that talks should
not be based solely on the ISGA proposals of the LTTE.
The
team of government lawyers comprised President's Counsels Jayampathy
Wickremaratne, Nihal Jayamanne, M. M. Zuhair, Nigel Hatch, Senior
Attorney R. K. W. Goonasekara and Dr. Ranjith Amarasinghe.
The
Sunday Leader learns that the government proposals for an interim
authority contemplates it being carried out within the framework of
a constitution. It is also learnt that the proposals provide for the
LTTE to have majority representation in the authority with nominees
of the government as well as from the Muslim community to be
included.
The
proposals also include a list of subjects that will be designated to
the authority including law and order in the northeast and taxation
on selected subjects.
However,
the terms of the government proposals do not include powers over
land that are currently under government control such as areas where
there are security forces camps and government establishments.
The
authority will not have any powers over defence and foreign affairs
and will be limited to the subjects stipulated in the list.
It
is learnt that Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen is
expected to travel to Kilinochchi this week and present the
government's proposals to Deputy of the Norwegian Embassy was
expected to travel to Kilinochchi yesterday to prepare the
groundwork for Helgessen's visit. The Japanese Ambassador, Akio Suda
too was expected in Kilinochchi yesterday.
However,
TNA Jaffna District MP, Gajen Ponnambalam scoffed at the
government's proposals stating that the TNA will not accept any
proposals other than the LTTE proposals as a basis for the
resumption of the talks. He said the government has the freedom to
formulate any proposals but that it cannot be put on the table as
basis for the resumption of talks. He added that he could not see
the LTTE agreeing to resume talks on any other basis other than its
own proposals.
"We
cannot help the President out of a situation of her own making. When
she went into an alliance with the JVP she knew very well what their
position was with regard to the ISGA. She nevertheless decided to
form an alliance. The President cannot ask us now to compromise on
this issue to satisfy the JVP which does not support the ISGA
proposals," he added.
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