The Hindu : International : JVP softens stand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 25, 2005

International

International

JVP softens stand

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, FEB. 24. Sri Lanka's Left-nationalist ruling ally, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), today opposed resumption of talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) based on an interim administration and said negotiations would have to include the outlines of a final settlement.

On a politically charged day, the JVP threatened to pull out of the Government if the talks resumed on the basis of an interim administration, only to tone down its position a few hours later. The JVP, with 39 MPs, is a major constituent of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

At the centre of the political storm was a statement on February 23 by the Government to mark the third anniversary of the ceasefire agreement. In its statement, Colombo reiterated that it "continues to be ready" to resume "direct negotiations with the LTTE on the establishment of an interim authority to meet the urgent humanitarian and development needs of the people of the north and east and to proceed thereafter to negotiating a final settlement of the ethnic conflict."

Changed position

The JVP contended that it was a changed position of the Government and its frontbencher, Wimal Weerawansa, told Parliament this morning that the party "decisively" rejected "the latest position".

"We state clearly that if the present government took such a step, we would immediately withdraw from being a constituent of the Government," Mr. Weerawansa had said.

However, at a hurriedly convened press conference, the JVP leader declined to set a timeframe and was non-committal on the future course of action. The JVP, he said, "was part of the Government," but was "not consulted" on the statement.

He also said two senior Ministers were not aware of the statement and wanted the Government to change its position.

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