The Hindu : International / India & World : `JVP not against interim administration'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

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International - India & World

`JVP not against interim administration'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 6. While rejecting the LTTE's proposal of an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA), the Janatha Vimukti Peramuna Polit Bureau member and Sri Lanka's Minister for Culture and National Heritage, Vijitha Herath, has said that talks with the separatist group could revolve around an interim administration.

In an informal chat with media persons at the office of The Hindu , he said the ISGA could not be the starting point for talks. Efforts must be made to arrive at a "midpoint" that took into consideration the views of all political parties and interested sections.

While refusing to put forward alternative proposals that could help in finding a "final solution," he said "some amount of devolution of power and decentralisation of administration" could help resolve the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. However, the final solution would have to be decided over the negotiating table, and he could not be expected to spell it out in advance.

Asked whether the JVP would accept devolution on the lines of the Union of Regions proposed by the Chandrika Government in 2000, he said not only the JVP, but the LTTE too had rejected it at the time. He did not specify whether the JVP was willing to concede "more" than what was proposed in 2000. He said it was not a question of more or less devolution than what was envisaged then. Rather, it should be "different" from the 2000 proposals. The JVP's vision of a final settlement was based on the principle of "equal rights for all on an equal basis." The party favoured retention of the unitary structure of Sri Lanka, while its coalition partner, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, supported devolution within a united Sri Lanka. Arguing for a midpoint, he, however, said the nature of the final settlement should not be based on foreign models of India or Switzerland, but must have Sri Lankan features.

Any initiative taken by the Sri Lankan Government without taking into consideration the views of the JVP was bound to fail, he said. Mr. Herath voiced deep suspicion about the role of Norway in the peace process, saying the Norwegians were "biased" towards the LTTE. The JVP was against Norway's "interference."

India, he said, could pressure the LTTE into accepting a solution within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Any division of Sri Lanka would be a problem for India, as Tamil Eelam could allow the United States a base in South Asia. "Eelam will be another Israel in the South Asian region," he said.

When reminded of the JVP's earlier opposition to any form of Indian interference, he said the political situation had changed since the 1980s.

Asked to assess the LTTE's military capabilities, he said after the exit of Col. Karuna, the separatist group had been weakened, but it still had some military strength.

To a question on the party's policy on dealing with the economic crisis facing Sri Lanka, he said the JVP was against privatisation, but the treasury did not have funds to support subsidies.

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