Media Release : Friday, 25 February 2005

SPUR Opposes Peace Talks Based on the ISGA

The Priority

The Society for Peace Unity and Human Rights of Sri Lanka (SPUR) supports peace talks with the affected parties provided the agreed agenda of the proposed peace talks result in a long term solution to the terrorist problem and the full disarming and disbanding of the LTTE. 

In this regard, SPUR reaffirms its strong opposition to commencing peace talks with the terrorists based on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposed by the LTTE or any of the bastardised version of it presented to the public under the guise of tsunami relief or providing humanitarian aid.

We strongly believe that the priority at this juncture is to provide humanitarian aid to all Sri Lankan’s affected by the tsunami irrespective of their ethnicity or geographic location. This  includes those Tamil civilians held captive by the LTTE in illegally occupied areas in Sri Lanka’s North and the East.

The ‘Peace’ Confusion

The statement released by the Chief of the Peace Secretariat Dr Jayantha Danapala on 23 February 2005 and subsequent articles in Sri Lankan newspapers portray a confusing picture.  Evidence point towards a shift in Government policy regarding the holding of peace talks with the LTTE based on the ISGA. There is scuttlebutt regarding the setting up of an (IA) for the North and the East of Sri Lanka. We trust that the Interim Authority that the Government is referring to here has no resemblance to the clandestine; all encompassing ISGA previously proposed by the terrorists.

It is indeed a tragedy that the Government of Sri Lanka is talking about recommencing peace talks with LTTE terrorist on the day that the LTTE mercilessly assassinated a Government soldier in Jaffna. We also take this opportunity to remind the Government that a peace proposition that has been fashioned by an inner core of Government ‘modernists’ and treacherous NGOs wedded to the alien concept of Federalism for Sri Lanka will only be acceptable to the terrorist friendly Norwegian peace facilitators and the LTTE. 

It would not be worthy of consideration by the populace.

Prevailing Environment

 The facts governing the current operating environment are as follows:

 1.      The Government has creditably distributed humanitarian aid and begun reconstruction and rehabilitating tsunami affected people in the South and in some Government controlled areas in the North and the East. However, the Government continues to receive brickbats instead of plaudits because the LTTE and some international agencies erroneously couple the peace process with tsunami recovery.

 2.      Significant work still needs to be done in Government controlled areas in the East to assist people as evidenced by the feedback received from Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities domicile in this region

 3.      The North and the East do not have to be considered a contiguous entity as the population, ethnic mix, the geography and the security situation differ markedly between these regions

4.      The areas controlled by the LTTE are small, and in the North and the East they are pockets mostly isolated from one another or void of habitation

SPUR believes that the urgent need is for providing humanitarian relief to the people affected by the tsunami, not negotiating on an ISGA with the LTTE in the guise of peace. However, the Government and the international community must take necessary steps to ensure LTTE’s rigid compliance with the Cease Fire Agreement signed with the Government.

The Way Forward

The Government can fulfil its recovery; reconstruction and rehabilitation of the tsunami affected areas with aid of the international community, unbiased NGO’s (local and international) and our armed forces without any assistance from the LTTE.

The Government needs to extricate itself from the deceitful web woven by the LTTE and its covert supporters such as the Norwegian Government and NGO’s such as the National Peace Council and the Centre for Policy Alternative.  It must not fall in to the ’Venus Trap’ set by the LTTE under the guise of helping people in the North and the East affected by the tsunami.

It would be prudent for opinion makers in the Government to listen to its partner in Governance, the JVP’s views on progressing peace and set a transparent, accountable, result orientated and people centred mechanism to address humanitarian issues and recovery from the tsunami. The Government must not be seduced by the deadly aroma of illusive peace emanating from LTTE’s ‘Venus Trap’. 

Dr Dasarath Jayasuriya 

President

Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR)

Reg No. A 003 07777 M

PO Box 4066

Mulgrave    VIC 3170

Australia