No hidden clauses in the Joint Mechanism to work with the LTTE – Jayantha Dhanapala
[June 14, 2005] 

[Asian Tribune] 2005-06-14 

Jayantha Dhanapala: "A team led by me negotiated the draft MOU with the LTTE with the facilitation of Norway and every step of the negotiating process was supervised by the President."

Editor of the Asian Tribune, K. T. Rajasingham, interviewed Jayantha Dhanapala, the Head of Peace Secretariat, in Stockholm yesterday. At this stopover Dhanapala clarified some of the issues surrounding the controversial Post-Tsunami Operation Management (P-TOMS). He was on his way to New York to attend a conference.

The following are the questions and answers:

Question: Is there a document called the P-TOMS? The President has told some delegates that there is no document called the P-TOMS?

Jayantha Dhanapala: Yes. P-TOMS is the acronym for Post-Tsunami Operation Management Structure, which is a draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). We await the decision of the President on its signature and implementation.

Question: Will the LTTE buy anything if it is not favorable to them? Is this the reason why the government is hiding the P-TOMS?

Jayantha Dhanapala: LTTE’s reasons for entering into P-TOMS can only be guessed by me. After three years of Ceasefire and when they have been unable to deliver the full benefit of the peace to the people of the North and East and when they are under pressure to grasp the hand of friendship extended by the Government in the post tsunami period could be the reasons for the LTTE to accept P-TOMS.

They are also under pressure from the international community to work constructively with the Government and the Muslims to use the foreign aid for the post-tsunami reconstruction.

Question: If the P-TOMS is as good as the government says it is why hasn’t the government revealed the contents? Won’t that be the best way to sell it to the public? What are the hidden clauses in the P-TOMS.

Jayantha Dhanapala: First until a negotiation process is completed it is premature to disclose the contents of a draft documents. At the end of April the President was informed that the LTTE could accept the draft document. She then began an intensive process of consultation with the parties in her coalition and seeking their support.

It was the President’s judgment that early publication could results in details being misinterpreted and distorted.

It is a matter of opinion whether the judgment is right or wrong.

Now the full details has been published (See below) and there are no -- and “No”, with emphasis added, hidden clauses.

Question: If the govt is distributing aid and reconstruction now to the tune of billions of rupees why can’t the same mechanism be used to distribute aid to the tsunami victims? Example: Killinochchi hospital, the main medical centre in the region is constructed by the govt and not by the LTTE? So isn’t this a political game and not a step to give aid to the people?

Jayantha Dhanapala: The Government is already engaged in development works in the North and East including Killinochchi and Mullaithievu and this will continue.

However for the specific of a crash program to rebuild the tsunami disaster zone in the six districts of the North and East P-TOMS is considered vital. We engage the cooperation of the LTTE to implement that task. It also has a long term benefit of inducting a rebel group with a notorious terrorist record in a democratic process working with the other parties and the Government to the benefit of the people of all ethnic communities in the North and East.

Question: Now that the government has agreed to halt the P-TOMS until it gets the full consent of the Maha Sangha will there be amendments to the contents of the P-TOMS?

Jayantha Dhanapala: As I am at present away from Sri Lanka I am not aware of the President’s thinking of this matter.

Question: Why can’t there be more balanced representation to other communities? Why can’t it be more democratic by giving at least other Tamil parties representation? Isn’t this another way of recognizing the LTTE only as the sole representative of the Tamils which is not true?

Jayantha Dhanapala: Let me explain that the draft MOU is between the Government and the LTTE. The LTTE does not feature in the Agreement as the sole representatives of the Tamils.

The language of the draft MOU makes it clear that there will be LTTE’s nominees and not Tamils nominated by the LTTE.

Secondly, at the district level other non-LTTE parties and groups are represented in the district committees.

Thirdly, stringent safeguards have been built into the working of the regional committee to ensure that there is no LTTE dominance and that the rights and interests of the Sinhalese, Muslims and other groups in the North and East are protected.

Question: Can you guarantee that the LTTE will come to peace talks and will remain in the peace talks until a final solution is worked if P-TOMS are given?

Jayantha Dhanapala: I cannot give guarantees on behalf of the LTTE. I can only hope that they will make the transition from their terrorists past into being a political party capable of working in the democratic mainstream as other rebel groups has done in so many countries including Sri Lanka.

Question: There is a talk that the P-TOMS formula was drafted by Dr. M. Sornarajah, the law lecturer in Singapore University, the brother-in-law of Manikkalingam, who is now a presidential advisor. Since both are known to be LTTE sympathizers do you think the government has been a sold an LTTE plan to gain power through the backdoor.

Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala: That is absolutely false. A team led by me negotiated the draft MOU with the LTTE with the facilitation of Norway and every step of the negotiating process was supervised by the President.

Dr. Ram Manickalingham does not work in the Peace Secretariat. I think that the record of his writings proves beyond any doubts that he is opposed to the LTTE. I believe the confusion has arisen because Dr. M.Sornarajah was among those Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates who helped to draft the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) which is totally different from the P-TOMS.

Question: Despite opposition do you think the president will go ahead and sign the P-TOMS?

Jayantha Dhanapala: At the time I left Sri Lanka the President was totally committed to P-TOMS as a necessity in response to the tsunami disaster and as a possible opening for the peace process.

Question: Do you think that by LTTE accepting and coming forward to sign the PTOMS Memorandum of Understanding whether the LTTE will accept Sri Lanka Government’s suzerainty over the entire country?

Jayantha Dhanapala: As HE President has said that there is an impact on the acceptance of the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and the legal authority of the Government.

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Last Updated Date: June 14, 2005 .