Controversial NACPR to meet in November

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 October 2004, 13:36 GMT]
National Advisory Committee for Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR), a group formed by Sri Lanka's President and touted as a mechanism to introduce inclusivity in the peace process, is to meet on 1st November, a press release from the Sri Lanka President's office said. Opposition United National Front (UNF) opposed it calling NACPR a tactic to delay the peace process, and TNA earlier rejected an invitation to join the NACPR.

Full text of the Press Release follows:

The first meeting of this Political Committee of the National Advisory Committee for Peace and Reconciliation NACPR will be held on Monday 1st November, 2004. Two representatives from each political party represented in Parliament have been invited to attend these meetings. President Chandrika Kumaratunga will make the opening address at this first meeting due to be held at the BMICH, Colombo.

The Religious Committee will meet on 2nd November at the same venue. Religious dignitaries from Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Catholic and Christian communities will participate in the deliberations. The first meeting of the Committee on Civil Society is scheduled for 4th November; professionals from business, academic and non-governmental organizations have been invited to attend.

These committees will deliberate on an ongoing basis on issues pertaining to the peace process, and advance understanding and reconciliation among different communities. At regular intervals these committees will submit their views and conclusions to the plenary sessions of the NACPR.

The committees will address several themes related to pursuing a just and durable peace in the country. These themes will include - the commitment to peaceful and non-violent means for resolving the violent conflict; the urgent need for effective development in the conflict-affected North and East; the importance of political reform that will lead to a permanent peace; and the strengthening of human rights and pluralism.