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Ranil's government should come out of its chauvinistic attitude.

The International Communities are also eagerly waiting to see this proposal with in the context of the Cease-Fire Agreement.

The Cease-Fire Agreement declared about one and a half years ago is aiming to seek a peaceful solution to the racial and ethnic violence against the Tamils.

One of the aim of this agreement is to remove the Sri Lankan armed forces and their bases in the North East. Further it was hoped that the displaced Tamils from their homes by the army occupation would return to their homes, to lead a peaceful life, without any military atrocities and interference. However, this didn't materialise. Similarly, the organisation created to oversee the resettlement and rehabilitation of the displaced Tamils (SIHRN) has ceased to function before it started.

In this state the LTTE sought an Interim Administration with authority to administer the work in the North East. The Government of Sri Lanka responded by forwarding three proposal, one after another. LTTE rejected the first two proposals as they did not contain adequate authority and facility to execute the functions. With the commitment to continue with the Ceasefire Agreement, the LTTE decided to consider the third proposal without rejecting it outright.

As expected the third proposal also did not meet with the aspirations and authority the Tamils are seeking. However, the LTTE decided to convene the Constitutional Affairs Committee to discuss the merits of this proposal. They will submit their findings and decisions as the proposals for an Interim Government. This proposal for the North East will be submitted to the GOSL before the end of September 2003. It is hoped that the GOSL will accept this proposal. The future of the CFA and its survival will depend on the GOSL's reply.

Due to the undue delays in our peace negotiations the International Governments' agents are visiting the Tamil homelands to assess the situation first hand, with the aim to hasten the Pease Process. The World Bank officials and the NGOs are also participating in these efforts.

It is obvious to these visitors that even though there is a CFA, there is no peaceful and settled way of life for the Tamils in their own homeland. The refugee status of displaced Tamils is still continuing. The Military personal are continuing with the authoritative atrocities. Those Tamils who are returning to their own home are finding that they cannot enter their homes and are also prevented from doing so by the Army.

It appears that the military is indifferent to the CFA and have no intention to comply with it. They have no intention of leaving the High Security Zones (HSZ). The Sri Lankan Navy is also continuing with it's own programme of which are not conducive to peace.

Why are the Armed forces keen to prevent the progress of the Peace Process? Why is the GOSL keeping silent on this matter? These questions are not only raised by the LTTE but also by the International Communities.

If the GOSL does not take initiative and allow the Tamil people to resettle in their own homes without the army occupations, then the future Interim Administration may flounder. The Sinhalese Government does not keep its words of commitment on matters relating to High Security Zones and SIHRN. This inaction is making the Tamil people not to believe the Sinhalese government. The GOSL agrees at meeting to co-operate with the Tamil people, but later they do not fulfil their commitment.

Tamil people are hoping that Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe will come out this Sinhalese government mould and comply with the agreement reached at the successive Peace Talks.

The aspirations and the long awaited process of returning to their homes by the Tamil people are dashed by this inaction. Apart from this, the army is establishing new fronts as well as new roadblocks to check the movement of the innocent Tamil civilians.

The army, without realising, that there are court rulings preventing road blocks are continuing with it, as well as illegal checks on innocent civilians. The GOSL leader, the Prime minister, Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe is maintaining a total silence on these matters. This is causing concern among the Tamils.

In the Eastern area, the earlier killings and atrocities drove the Tamil people away from their villages. These people took refuge in camps and are unable to return to villages. They are prevented to do so by the armed forces. Apart from this, the armed forces are also encouraging and helping previously unconnected Sinhalese people to encroach and settle near the boundaries of these villages.

In this present condition and the armed forces racially motivated behaviour, it would be impossible for the LTTE to accept the Interim Administration and carry out its business within it. There is a fear that this administration will also fail like SIHRN.

The Tamil people want and they are entitled to lead a decent life, in their own homes as they please. This is a birth right and should be accorded to them.

The LTTE will endeavour and seek their rights for them and only agree to the Interim Administration, if they can provide these facilities without any interference by outside forces.

03 September 2003

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