SRI LANKA: Cease Fire Process Enters The
Committee Phase- Update 38.
by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan
The second round of talks that concluded on Nov. 3 is said to have
progressed beyond expectations. The BBC which normally chooses its
words carefully said that the talks made "dramatic progress."
The Hindu of November 4, had the headline-" Tigers wish to turn a new
leaf." But the Sri Lankan government’s chief negotiator was not so
euphoric and he claimed that the peace process was "moving forward in
a very encouraging manner." Mr. Hegelsen, the Norwegian facilitator
was more realistic when he said "what we have agreed is here on
paper. It has to be implemented vigorously on the ground."
The progress was, in the two sides forming joint committees that would
address all the all three issues namely civilian rehabilitation, military
concerns and sensitive political matters. Three sub committees were
formed- one for political matters to work towards an acceptable model to
be chaired by the two chief negotiators. two- sub committee on
Intermediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation needs in the North and the
East (Note- not Northeast) and three- the subcommittee on
"De-escalation and Normalisation" which will look into issues
relating to high security zones. The rehabilitation committee will be
chaired by Tamilchelvan and Bernard Goonatilleke and the security one by
LTTE’s eastern military commander Karuna and the Sri Lankan Defence
secretary, Austin Fernando. Rauf Hakeem, leader of Sri Lankan Muslim
Congress was also inducted into the political committee. Rauf Hakeem and
Karuna had a separate informal session where the security of Muslims was
discussed. In a related issue the LTTE raised formally the role and
location of STF in the eastern province.
In a surprise move, the LTTE dropped the demand for interim
administration of the Northeast. In the Press conference that followed
the talks, Balasingham spoke with consummate finesse. While dropping the
demand for the handing over of administration of Northeast to the LTTE,
which would have been difficult for Wickremasinghe government without
cooperation from President Chandrika, he went to the extent of saying that
the LTTE would permit other political parties and groups to participate in
the democratic process in the north and the east. On the latter, the test
would be whether the parties outside the TNA (Tamil National Alliance)
would be allowed to operate in the areas under the control of LTTE.
For the present, the priorities of the LTTE appear to be one-
rehabilitation and reconstruction of the northeast with the help of
outside donors and two- to woo the Muslims, who have long been
deliberately kept by the Sri Lankan government as a separate entity.
Letting the SLMC leader as a party to the cease-fire talks and bringing in
Karuna to talk directly to Hakeem tend to substantiate this view.
Aid and progress in peace talks go together. The Japanese official
representative to the peace process Yasushi Akashi who toured the island
for six days struck the right note in linking aid to progress in peace
talks. Of significance is his reference to the eligibility of south Sri
Lanka for aid once there was a permanent end to the conflict. It is
presumed that he was talking on behalf of all other donor countries.
The next round of talks will be in Oslo between December 2 and 5
followed by other rounds on January 6, February 7 and March 18, 2003. The
talks will be preceded by conference on invitation in Oslo on November 25.
Besides United Kingdom, the United States and other Scandinavian
countries, media reports indicate that India has also been invited.
So far the talks have gone off well with each party putting best foot
forward but there could be problems. There was a major violation of
cease fire terms by the LTTE when its boat with six members was
intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy off Trincomalee. The Navy found 35
claymore mines, concealed in the boat. The cadres were handed over to the
monitoring committee instead of going through regular legal procedures. Of
greater interest and potential to create friction between the government
and the LTTE as also between the Prime minister and President is the
string of Police stations, the LTTE proposes to open in the east. Two such
Police stations were opened recently, one in Mutur, Trincomalee (one
already present ) and the other in Palugamam in Batticola district. Media
reports indicate that the Assistant Government agent, Batticola unveiled
the name board of the Police station at Palugmam. Interestingly the LTTE
has its own penal and criminal procedure code, its own judiciary, customs
service, taxation laws and a banking service.
The running feud between President Chandrika and prime minister
Wickremasinghe continues with each taking potshots at the other. While
Chandrika made a televised appeal for unity in the interest of peace, it
was treated with scorn by the government. A response came from the Sri
Lankan representative to the talks G.L. Peiris that while the government
welcomed offers of cooperation from all quarters it still had to implement
its own agenda! In other words, thank you President, we don’t need you.
But the fact of the matter is that the peace process cannot be taken to
the logical end unless the President and the Prime minister, in the
present constitutional dispensation available work together!
The government is also in the process of introducing a "Joint
Chiefs of Staff Bill" this month that would provide the creation of a
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee functioning directly under the Ministry of
Defence which some legal experts believe is yet another attempt by the
government to strip the President of some powers and responsibilities. One
of the objectives of the Joint Chiefs is to provide advice to the
government individually or collectively when called upon to do so, when
technically the President is the Commander in chief and it is the
President who should seek such advice for herself or on behalf of the
government and get it.
President Chandrika on the other hand has proposed on November 12, the
setting up of a National Commission for Ethnic reconciliation and
Sustainable peace with the participation of the LTTE without consulting
the government. The highlight of her speech was the reference to 1983
riots which she said was a "water shed event in ethnic relations and
a true national tragedy of epic proportions." She described the riots
as a "clear failure of the Sri Lankan State to protect its Tamil
Citizens." Had it been said in some other time, it would have been a
weighty one. It was indeed a failure on the part of the then UNP
government to protect the Tamils of all hues that resulted in a reluctant
India intervening on behalf of the Tamils. The rest is history.
