Parochial politics delaying peace, LTTE tells Japanese

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 November 2004, 10:58 GMT]
"Parochial political concerns and lack of consensus in the south are delaying the peace process and humanitarian delivery to the war affected people of the northeast", Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan, told Japanese Special Envoy Mr. Yasushi Akashi who met head of Liberation Tigers' political division in Kilinochchi Monday.

Mr.Yasushi Akashi, Japanese special peace envoy meets with Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, Political Head of the LTTE in Kilinochchi

"Lack of consensus in the south due to different political ideologies is understandable but it is regrettable when these differences hinder humanitarian delivery", Mr. Thamilchelvan told Mr. Akashi.

At the outset Mr.Akashi emphasized the necessity for resuming dialogue in the interest of sustaining the momentum of peace built over the last two and a half years.

Mr.Akashi told the LTTE's political division head that his discussion with the Sri Lankan President made him feel that she is genuine in her commitment to the peace process and therefore he would encourage the LTTE too to enter negotiations without further delay.

Responding to Mr. Akashi's concern, Mr.Thamilchelvan said that the LTTE remains firmly committed to the peace process and it is exactly one year today that the proposal for an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) was submitted to the Sri Lankan government but that Colombo has not yet indicated its readiness to resume talks, although it expresses sincerity and commitment in mere words only.

It is time, Mr.Thamilchelvan said, that the Sri Lankan Government seriously considers the unconditional support offered by the main opposition to take forward the peace process, sinking narrow political considerations.

Presenting an overview of the LTTE delegation's tour of European countries, Mr.Thamilchelvan said that he has impressed upon the international community about the risk of loosing people's faith in the peace process because humanitarian delivery is yet delayed in spite of firm assurances given in the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) relating to restoration of normalcy.

Mr.Akashi agreed with the Tamil concern on an unattained peace dividend in a situation of no-war but no- peace and assured that he will interact with the donor community in devising ways and means of humanitarian delivery without waiting for final resolution which is time consuming.

Associated with Mr. Akashi was Mr.Akio Suda the Japanese Ambassador and representatives of the South West Asia Division of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.