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| Sunday, 27 January 2002 |
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`No outright LTTE de-proscription`just now': PM explains to Maha Sangha Ariyaratne Ganegoda reporting from Meerigama Leaders of Maha Sangha and other interest groups are being met and all aspects of the peace process explained to them, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said when he paid a visit to the Most Ven. Wewaldeniye Medhalankara Maha Nayaka Thera of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya yesterday morning. The Prime Minister was warmly received by the prelate at the Sasanarakshaka Pirivena Viharaya, Meerigama. The Most Ven. Medhalankara Thera, in giving his blessings to the Premier cautioned him to be vigilant of elements that could sabotage the government's well-intended moves. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe told the Maha Nayaka Thera that his Government had not taken any steps to lift the ban imposed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but it was under review whether any amendments would be introduced to the proscription now in force in the present context. " We cannot simply lift the ban or bring about amendments to the clauses in the proscription. We have to stretch a safety net before all that, and then I will explain everything to the whole world," he said. Responding to some of the questions raised by the prelate in respect of the proposed peace talks with the LTTE and the conditions laid down by them, Premier Wickremesinghe reiterated that his government had not accepted the declared views of the LTTE over de-proscription and the 'Tamil homeland theory'. He told the prelate that what they wanted at present was the basic requirements for the day to day living of the people in the uncleared areas as fundamental human rights."While providing their basic needs for a dignified human life, the government will continue to maintain the administration, hospital services and schools, etc. We will also do whatever possible to restore and maintain law and order whenever there is a breakdown in the Northern peninsula in consultation with the police and the armed forces ", he said. The Prime Minister informed the Maha Nayaka Thera that the government would look into the grievances of the fishermen of the North and East and take steps to solve any problems faced by the Sri Lankan fishermen. Prime Minister Wickremasinghe also noted that LTTE political chief S. Thamilchelvam, in his recent media briefing in Vanni, had called for the de-proscription of the LTTE. "This need not be a barrier to come to the negotiating table," the Premier said. "Even if Sri Lanka lifts the LTTE ban, the United States of America has said that it would not lift the ban. The British Government has said the same. India has taken the position that its ban on the LTTE was because of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Even if we solve our problem here, the LTTE has no option but to go before the courts to get India to lift its ban. According to the clauses of the proscription order, we cannot simply lift it just like that. We have to have other precautionary measures in place even before thinking of bringing amendments to the provisions of the ban," he added. He also told the Mahanayaka Thera that the Government would take about eight weeks to begin the final stage in resolving the ethnic problem. The Premier said: "First of all we have to complete the ground work for talks with the LTTE. At present every effort is being made to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the LTTE, bringing together the acceptable clauses found in the Government's declaration of a cessation of hostilities and the LTTE's declaration of a cease-fire. We cannot have these functioning parallel to each other. We must have a firm foundation on which to begin talks and that is what we are trying to achieve through the good offices of the Norwegian government as facilitator. We also want to get the assurance of the LTTE. They should say in clear terms whether they will come for talks and whether they would remain committed to negotiations. We will take our next steps once they respond." |
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