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[December 17, 2004 - 7.45 GMT] The JVP yesterday responded to concerns that it was at odds with the government’s policy on peace. The JVP said it was ever ready for peace talks but not just on the basis of the LTTE’s ISGA proposals. The letter signed by the party’s General Secretary Tilvin Silva said ‘We are surprised at this grave misunderstanding about both our position as well as our role within the government’. Earlier this week the four co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference expressed their deep concern about the ongoing JVP-led actions against the peace process in Sri Lanka and the Government of Norway's efforts as facilitator of that process. The full text of the letter; Our attention has been drawn to the joint statement made by Your Excellencies on Wednesday, on the Sri Lankan peace process especially as that statement seems to blame our party for the stalling of the peace process. We are surprised at this grave misunderstanding about both our position as well as our role within the government. The facts are the following: Our party has the second largest parliamentary representation in the ruling Alliance. (Our party however polled the largest number of popular votes in the Alliance). The Alliance came into being wedded to democracy, the rule of law, and to a peaceful solution of the national question. It came about after an election which was called after continued violations of the ceasefire agreement by the LTTE as well as after the Government of Norway appeared to give the impression of gross bias. These sentiments were expressed not only by the JVP but also repeatedly by others. The two major constituents of the Alliance however have different views on the shape of the final solution, just like the different contexts of Japan, the US and the EU have widely differing arrangements in achieving democracy in their multi-ethnic societies. This "agree-to-disagree" on solutions is a key element of our Alliance. These different visions will be ironed out once they are discussed during the peace talks. A solution will be finally submitted for approval by the people in a referendum. In extensive and extremely cordial discussions with the US, and Japanese Ambassadors, our position has been made clear. We are ever ready for peace talks but not on the basis of the LTTE's ISGA., which as independent commentators have pointed out is a clear blue print for a separate state. We also pointed out the need for democracy and human rights in the North and East, where it is currently grossly lacking, the LTTE operating as a fascist dictatorship, is completely at variance with the democratic reality and ideals of the US, Japan and the EU. Democracy is flourishing in your countries illustrated by strong variations in views and their expressions within parliament and on the street in the form of demonstrations. Not blindly following a single line is your strength. It is also the strength in those parts of Sri Lanka where democracy reigns that is in those areas not controlled by the LTTE. Our Alliance will continue to have healthy differences. The actual barriers to peace talks however came not from us, but from the latter-day Hitler holding forth in the Vanni. He has a single minded dream of a mono-ethnic separate state under his dictatorship. In this, the LTTE stand isolated from all other parties in the country, all of whom are wedded both to the sovereignty of this country and for democracy. We on the other hand will always keep the door open for discussion and dialogue on the ethnic issue including the free expression in elections and in the street. We of course have our doors fully open for discussions with Your Excellencies at anytime and any place that you wish to discuss as indeed you have done on many occasions.
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