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Provisional
Administration
An
assessment of the July 17th proposals
[July
29,
2003]
Dr.
S. Chandrasekharan
For
the third time, the Sri Lankan government has made out a “proposal for
discussion on a “Provisional Administrative Council “for the Northern
and Eastern Provinces for an interim administration.
The Norwegian special envoy Jon Westborg visited LTTE headquarters
in Wanni on 17th July to hand over the document.
Westborg’s impression was that the discussion with the LTTE
leadership on the proposal was positive.
The
LTTE had indicated that it has constituted a high level committee to
conduct a detailed study of the latest proposals.
The Proposal: The administrative structure of the proposed Council consists
briefly of the following:
*
It will consist of members nominated by LTTE, Govt. of Sri Lanka including
nominees of People’s Alliance of the opposition and the Sri Lanka Muslim
Congress with a majority for the LTTE.
*
The Chairperson could be either two one from the LTTE and the other from
GOSL or one for the whole council. In
the case of the former each chairperson will have veto power on any issue
and in the case of latter, any decision affecting the Sinhalese and
Muslims should be acceptable to the majority of the two communities.
*
All power except the area
of police and security, land and revenue, but including
rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement as are now being enjoyed
by the regional administration of the government will be exercised by the
Council. The Council will
determine the use of funds at its disposal-.
It shall identify such utilization by state and non-state
agencies.
*
A Special Commissioner will be appointed by GOSL with the consent of a
majority in the Council to utilize the state machinery for the
implementation of the decisions of the Council.
*
Each of the eight districts will have a District Committee appointed by
and from amongst the members of the Council to serve as a link to the
Provincial Council. Members will be appointed by the Council giving due
consideration to the ethnic composition of each district. A District
Secretary will be appointed for implementation of the decision of the
Provincial Council and coordination of all development activities within
the district. For effective
implementation, each District Committee may establish such number of
District Sub Committees for sub divisions within the district for
effective implementation of the decisions of the Council.
*
The Provincial Council could also have separate committees for Economic
Affairs, Infrastructure and Essential Services.
Observations
1.
First and foremost, it should be conceded that the government
within the constraints of a rigid constitution (thanks to late President
Jayewardene) is willing to share power with the LTTE with the provision that safe
guards are provided to the Muslims and Sinhalese living in the North
East.
2.
The LTTE has been demanding that an interim administration is
required for the twin objectives of expediting rehabilitation activities
and also
to
make the peace process more meaningful.
The proposal made with minor changes will adequately meet the needs
of re-construction and rehabilitation, but the problem would come when it
relates to consolidating the peace process.
The
earlier proposals were rejected by the LTTE precisely on the grounds that
they failed to provide the
political authority necessary to run the North East.
With no control over police, security, land and revenue, the
present proposal is unlikely to meet the objectives of the LTTE.
Besides, the question of the removal of High Security Zones in the Jaffna
Peninsula still remains a top priority for the LTTE. Another major issue
that needs to be sorted out is - what happens to the territories under the
control of LTTE where the LTTE has its own administrative machinery, including
police, security, taxation, customs, judiciary and revenue? The LTTE is
unlikely to give up its dominant position in the areas held by them.
People’s
Alliance reaction
The
preliminary reaction of the
opposition People’s Alliance in their inclusion in the Provincial
council appears to be not so positive.
The party is said to have taken objection to their inclusion
without prior consent of their President Chandrika Kumaratunga. It is
likely that this issue of the establishment of a
North East Provincial
Council may result in a head on clash between the President and the Prime
Minister.
Cohabitation
As
the media (Island) puts it, “the
country has been going through this pinch and punch show of Chandrika and
Ranil for over seven and a half years.
The recipients of these pinches and punches have not been them but
the people. The peace process
will not and cannot succeed under the circumstances ...”- a very
valid observation.
There have been suggestions if the two leaders do not agree, the
only way out, is to go to the people for a fresh mandate.
Sinhala politicians on both sides of the divide must realize that
the alternative to a consensus is resumption of war.
JVP
factor
It
is learnt that one of the main demands of the JVP for political alliance with
the opposition PA, is the immediate abrogation of the government-LTTE
cease-fire agreement. Other
demands include cancellation of Norwegian facilitation, expulsion of truce
monitors and a clear cut stand of the President on the proposed North east
administration. Instead of
outright rejection of the demands of the JVP, which would have given a
positive signal to the recalcitrant LTTE, the President is said to have
agreed to jointly “review” these issues.
This gives no comfort to the international community which has
pledged billions of dollars for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Other
disturbing trends
It
is well known by now that the LTTE has been stocking up arms and lethal
equipment. A few incidents of the sinking of LTTE’s cargo vessels
suspected to be carrying arms by the Sri Lankan Navy have been discussed
before. A new development has
been the frantic move by the Sri Lankan security forces to obtain arms
from Israel and the USA. Delegations
have been visiting these countries with a long shopping list.
It looks that both the parties appear to be not so confident of the
durability of the cease fire agreement.
There
has been continuing violation of the cease-fire agreement.
The most serious has been the establishment of a camp by the LTTE at
Kinniya in the government-controlled area.
The SLMM has inspected the area, not once but twice and concluded
that the camp falls within the government controlled territory.
The LTTE has so far refused to budge and is sending another team to
examine the location!
Meantime
the SLMM is increasing its strength of sea monitors to prevent incidents
off the sea, which of late have become serious enough to affect the
cease-fire agreement.
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Last Updated
Date: September 25, 2003
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