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Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader responds to the President's letter

Her Government should be clear, firm, and steady to commence negotiations. That alone would help resume negotiations. It is his party's opinion that no other action can ever help the peace process. Mr. Wickramasinghe writes this letter corresponding to her reply to his earlier letter dated Sept 24. There had been proposals and counter proposals between the LTTE and the previous Government of Mr.Wikremasinghe. As these documents submitted to each other were not in agreement there was need to meet and negotiate across the table, and progress towards settlement depends very much on a direct dialogue to negotiate.

In his 2003 Martyrs Day Address LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran said the proposals by the Government were not to the satisfaction of the LTTE and yet the LTTE had not rejected them. Mr. Wickremasinghe underlined Mr.Prabhakaran's preparedness to negotiate, and draws the President's attention to that fact. The president is also requested to take note that the third set of proposals put forward by Mr. Wickramasinghe's previous government were not rejected by the LTTE. What is now primarily with the president and her government is not what to talk but how soon to begin to talk picking on the proposals already placed on the table by both the parties to the negotiations. This is what Mr. Wickramasinghe stresses on.

Mr. Wickramasinghe had already indicated that his party would participate in the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation once the negotiations with the LTTE resume and proceed. Mr. Wickramasinghe believes that the National Council on Peace and Reconciliation won't be a body going against the deliberations of the government. As the president says it is only a body to keep the people informed and for the people to advise. The president has very clearly stated, Mr. Wickramasinghe says, that the council won't be used for the government to run away from the responsibility of finding ways and means of resolving the conflict. Mr. Wickramasinghe has reiterated in his letter what he had said in the meeting with her namely that his party, UNP, gives in to her and her government to negotiate with the LTTE abiding by the Tokyo declaration and Oslo report. However, despite these assurances the UNP gives the President and the government, as it is well known to the public, on the matter of the peace process there are sharp differences among the constituents of President Kumaratunga's Alliance. JVP's stand on the subject of negotiating with the LTTE is no secret.

The country expects the UPFA Government to resolve their conflicts within to begin with their action to achieve peace. The President can rest assured, Mr.Wickremasinghe says, that the UNP would contribute and give their share as the government moves forward in the peace process. The UNP do not wish to enter a public debate on the problems of peace efforts as it will only bring adverse consequences. And such debates will only side-tract and detract the Government and all concerned, from the firm base and path where the actions for peace are to commence and move along to attain the goal. Furthermore, any debate or dispute would only lead to crisis in the relationship of the two major parties and bring in undesirable results. The President could associate with and consult the UNP leader Mr.Wickremasinghe anytime and under any circumstance as he would be ever prepared for it.

11 October 2004

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