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LTTE Press meeting - After the Tamil Proposal for an Interim Self-Governing Authority for the NorthE

Full text of the opening speech of Mr.S.P Tamilselvan:

We have great pleasure in meeting with a sizeable cross-section of the media both local and international, today especially in the background of the Tamil Proposal for an Interim Self-Governing Authority for the NorthEast, having been handed over yesterday to the Norwegian Ambassador for transmission to the GOSL.

Before going into the details of the proposals, it is pertinent to mention here, that the Tamil people have, for the last twenty years or so faced a cruel war and military occupation of their homesteads. The war brought with it destruction of lives, more than eighty thousand civilians and devastation of the entire infrastructure, both social and economic.

The basis of our struggle is to regain the lost freedom of the Tamil people and bring them in par with our Sinhala brethren, enabling them to enjoy human liberty and dignity and the recognition as a distinct nation of people. Briefly stated, it is normalcy that the Tamil people are asking for, without a sense of military coercion and subjugation.

We took up arms as a matter of self-defense and fight against unlawful military occupation of our natural habitat. With the advent of peace and a conducive environment for political negotiations, we are now engaged in this exercise with sincere commitment.

In the year 2000 our national leader declared a unilateral ceasefire with a view to resolve the conflict through political negotiations. The government in power then did not reciprocate but opted to let loose a cruel and destructive war against the Tamil people. Several hundreds of thousands of people were made refugees overnight in their motherland. The destruction the war brought cannot be said to have been confined to the NorthEast; ordinary Sinhala masses too suffered immensely due to the economic constraints consequent to the war.

During the current peace process, while the South has enjoyed peace dividends, the NorthEast has yet to reap such rewards. While the South has largely returned to normalcy, in the NorthEast tens of thousands of people remain displaced from their homes, without jobs, and unable to resume normal life. In short, the peace thus far has been asymmetric with more benefits accruing to the areas least affected by the conflict. Given the possibility that negotiations to resolve the conflict could continue for months or even years, there is an urgent need to address the needs of the people of the NorthEast while negotiations to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict continue.

The failure to address the needs of the people of the NorthEast is due in large part to the ineffectiveness of the existing Institutions operating here. In addition, the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) and other Sub-Committees formed during the peace negotiations have failed to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the people. This is due to the composition of these Sub-Committees, which has repeatedly led to deadlock and an inability to act on urgent problems.

The continued suffering of our people has, in turn, complicated efforts to negotiate and to reach agreement on the essential elements of a long-term settlement to the conflict.

As a result, it has become apparent that a new system of governance is essential to bring normalcy to the war-ravaged NorthEast, and that there must be an Interim Self-Governing Authority to accomplish this task. The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) has recognized this in its 2000 election manifesto, as well as in its own initial proposal, which has served as a useful starting point. However, one clear lesson to be gleaned from the peace process thus far is that in order to accomplish the immediate return, resettlement, and rehabilitation of tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees, and in order to reconstruct the NorthEast's economic, educational, and cultural infrastructure, it is essential that any Interim Governing Authority have plenary power. The Tamil proposal takes into consideration the needs of the Tamil people in the NorthEast as well as the legitimate interests of the GOSL. The creation of an Interim Self-Governing Authority is also an efficient means of building institutional capacity, which will be essential to post conflict government.

The Tamil proposal has been formulated after thorough consultations with international experts, as well as with parties to similar conflicts, which have now been peacefully resolved or are in the process of being so resolved, and after substantial discussion with major segments of the Tamil People internally as well as abroad.

We have asked the Royal Norwegian Government to arrange for a meeting at which we can discuss this proposal, in their presence, with the representatives of the GOSL at a mutually convenient time and venue.

We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the GOSL and to reaching rapid agreement on the creation of an Interim Self-Governing Authority(ISGA) so as to effectively bring normalcy and economic development to the Tamil People in the NorthEast.

We trust the creation of the ISGA will provide a conducive environment for negotiating towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the island.

Peace to the Tamil people should be translated as peace and prosperity to the entire country. Therefore, it is responsibility of all of us and most importantly you the representatives of the media to take this message of peace to the nooks and corners of the country. We fervently request of you to become active partners to work for the general welfare and the redemption of this country from the economic mess.

01 November 2003

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