Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003
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By V.S. Sambandan
Just before the fourth session began today, the body language was uneasy compared with previous occasions. The usual smiles had given way to a visible tension over a standoff between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army on the issue of de-militarising the HSZs in northern Jaffna to facilitate the resettlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs). The head of Colombo's delegation, G.L. Peiris, later told presspersons that despite "a great deal of apprehensions" that there would be difficulties, the discussions during the day were "as cordial as ever'' and went on "very well". During the next three days, the two sides have agreed to talk on issues relating to resettlement of the IDPs and de-escalation of the HSZs as well as address matters relating to human rights. During the build-up to the talks, the LTTE had verbally blasted a Government proposal linking de-escalation of the northeast to disarming of the Tigers. "There was a great deal of apprehension that the talks are going to breakdown, that there will be irreconcilable differences, nothing of that sort happened at all. The parties recognised that there are certain matters that we need to focus on and we started by addressing the issues on the ground, which are very important". The negotiators took on the less sensitive and more mutually beneficial money matters. "We discussed development work to show concrete results for the donor meeting to be held in May/June this year in Japan," Prof. Peiris said.
On whether the LTTE made concessions during the talks, given its tough stance before the talks, Prof. Peiris said: "It is not a question of anybody climbing down or making concessions to the other. The parties recognise that there are very complex considerations involved''.
WB, UNDP to be custodians?
Sri Lanka's peace negotiators are considering the World Bank and the UNDP as possible custodians of international funding they plan to raise in the months ahead through donors meetings. Prof. Peiris said the two sides had discussed the issue of who should be the "custodian'' of the funds. It is estimated that close to $500 million is required for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the northeast. Certain conditionalities would have to be reworked to take the effort forward, he said.
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