President’s response to the TNA Statement on NE province

[October 13, 2003 - 10.00 GMT]

The President’s Office notes with interest the recent press statement issued by the Tamil National Alliance regarding the situation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. 

Due to several misconceived and wrong perceptions created regarding the policies of the President, it becomes necessary to set the record straight. 

Firstly President Kumaratunga has maintained a consistent stand, rivalled by none, on the ethnic problem, even preceding her election as President in 1994. Vijaya, her politician husband and she were the first Sinhala political leaders to open a dialogue in 1986 with the Tamil militant groups, now all in democratic politics, save the LTTE. Her principled support for the Indo-Lanka Accord is a matter of historical record. 

Further President Kumaratunga and the Peoples Alliance in both 1994 and 1999 pledged devolution of power and a negotiated settlement, as a solution to the ethnic problem and received four clear mandates at two consecutive Parliamentary elections and two Presidential elections from the people. This promise was fulfilled by the devolution proposals of 1997 presented after extensive consultations, including through a Parliamentary Select Committee process, as a draft Constitution in August 2000. 

In fact the disappointing, though unsurprising, political volte-face since 1994 had to do with the TULF’s decision in August 2000, to withdraw support for the draft Constitution that had been co-authored by one of its distinguished late leaders Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam. An unwillingness created no doubt by the LTTE. Perhaps the supreme price paid by such leaders as Mr. Amirthalingam, Sam Thambimutthu and Dr. Tiruchelvam among a host of other leaders of the TULF, slain by the LTTE to ensure its status of ‘sole representative’ led to the TULF’s decision to withdraw support to constitutional reforms granting devolution of power.

The sad reality is that for the past two decades the Tamil polity is under the gun of the LTTE, who are proving to be totally uninterested in the demand of the vast majority of the Tamil people i.e. devolved power in a democratic context. 

At present the LTTE has suspended its participation in direct negotiations, is murdering its democratic political opponents and army personnel throughout the country and is vastly expanding the institutions of a de facto separate State while setting up armed camps within Government controlled areas of the North and East. Further the current peace process is deficient with regard to its lack of focus on resolving the causes of the conflict (core issues), the absence of any human rights protections and non-adherence to even the deeply flawed Ceasefire MOU by the LTTE. 

The deteriorating security in the Eastern Province particularly for the Muslim population is a grave problem, which cannot be brushed aside. The murders, extortion and fear to which the Muslim population is subjected to and the conscription of Tamil children of the East as LTTE child combatants are serious issues which have remained unresolved since the signing of the ceasefire MOU. 

As for a negotiated political solution, be assured that President Kumaratunga remains firmly committed to peace with democracy and a resolution of the ethnic problem through dealing with the causes of the conflict, direct negotiations with the LTTE and by redressing our failure as a people to create a truly multi-ethnic and pluralist society.

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Last Updated Date: October 13, 2003  -10.00 GMT.