LTTE, TNA spell out basis for Tokyo meet participation

by Franklin R. Satyapalan
The LTTE is of the view that its participation at the two-day Tokyo aid conference scheduled to begin on June 9 depends on the government creating administrative financial and other structures with adequate powers on priority basis to restore normal civilian life in the North-East, TNA sources said Wednesday.

This was expressed to TNA delegates they met with Tiger political leadership at Kilinochchi on May 13 to review the stalled peace process. Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran did not participate.

TULF leader V. Anandasangaree too did not take part.

The LTTE was represented by S. P. Thamilchelvan political head of the LTTE, Sudha Master deputy political chief and political chiefs from the districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Vanni, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee and other representatives from Kilinochchi.

The Alliance of Tamil parties was represented by parliamentary group leader and general secretary of the TULF R. Sampanthan, MP of Trincomalee district, Joseph Pararajasingham, MP Batticaloa district, and Jaffna district MPs Mavai Senathirajah, A. Vinayagamoorthy, M. K. Sivajilingam, N. Raviraj, Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam, Suresh Premachandra, secretary general EPRLF, Chandra Nehru, MP Ampara district, MPs Batticaloa district Thangavadivelu, Krishnapillai Sivashanthi Anandan, MP Vanni district and K. Thurairatnasingham, National List MP Trincomalee district.

After a lengthy discussion lasting over 3 hours from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. it was decided by consensus that the following announcements be made by the TNA.

1. That the LTTE was firmly committed to the pursuit of a negotiated political solution to the Tamil national question, and will extend its fullest cooperation to the furtherance of the peace process.

2. The LTTE deems it necessary that firm administrative, financial and other structures with adequate powers need to be established for the reconstruction of the North-East and to rehabilitate and resolve normal civilian life in the North East.

3. The Sub-committee to provide for the Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) of the people in the North-East does not fulfil the above purposes. The North East Rehabilitation Fund has not become functional.

4. The LTTE is of the view that before its participation at the Tokyo aid conference, The aforestated administrative, financial and other structures, with adequate powers, need to be established in order to reconstruct the North-East and to rehabilitate and resolve normal civilian life in the North-East.

5. Relocation of armed forces camps in the North-East in order to enable the resettlement of displaced Tamil civilians in the North-East in terms of the ceasefire agreement was also emphasized.

6. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will endeavour to have the above matters addressed early.

Those not present at the meeting other than TULF president were TELO MPs, Raja Kuganeswaran and Selvam Adayakalanathan.