Press release by SCOPP
18 March 2003  

 
Matters relating to the Ceasefire Agreement addressed

The sixth session of peace talks commenced on Tuesday, 18 March 2003, in the salubrious location of Hakone, Japan.  The government delegation is headed by Hon. Prof. G.L.Peiris and included Hon. Milinda Moragoda, Hon. Rauf Hakeem and Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke.  The LTTE delegation is headed by Dr. Anton Balasingham and includes Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan, Mr. Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan (Karuna) and Mrs. Adele Balasingham.

The two sides discussed the recent incident of a LTTE vessel being sunk off the Mullaitivu coast and how effective safeguards could be implemented to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.  It is likely to result in the two parties initiating a dialogue to formulate modalities to address the issue.

hey also discussed formalities relating to situations in which soldiers or cadres transgressing into areas dominated by each other and ways and means of resolving the problem.

The discussions were conducted in a cordial and friendly atmosphere with the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen functioning as facilitator.

Matters of rehabilitation and resettlement including the progress of the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) will be taken up tomorrow.

Press release by SCOPP
19 March 2003  

Rehabilitation and human rights issued addressed

 
The second day of peace talks concluded after seven hours of deliberations, during which the delegates discussed issues relating to rehabilitation & resettlement and human rights.

The progress of the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) was reviewed by the delegations.  In addition to administrative matters of the Secretariat, the delegates considered progress made on the resettlement programmes in the Jaffna and Mannar districts.  They also discussed matters relating to impediments that constrain the resettlement efforts, including issues of security.

The delegations further discussed the procedural process regarding the North-East Reconstruction Fund (NERF), and agreed to take measures that would expedite the establishment of the fund, in view of the rapidly changing international environment.

The delegations emphasised the need to better involve the participation of SIHRN in medium and long-term development activities of the North and East.

In the afternoon sitting, Mr. Ian Martin, international advisor on human rights, presented a conceptual road map on addressing issues of human rights.  The delegations discussed at length the proposals of Mr. Martin and agreed on the need for a declaration on human rights principles and an acceptable mechanism to monitor human rights standards.

Press release by SCOPP 
20 March 2003  

 
Political matters discussed at length

The third day of talks concluded this evening after deliberations on political issues relating to power sharing.  The delegations shared information of a conceptual nature on fiscal devolution.  This provided the parties with a better understanding of the facets involved in revenue and disbursement concepts.  In the ensuing discussion, the delegations were of the view that it was essential to map out the trajectory of the process, in order to have a clearer vision of the steps ahead. 
The LTTE delegation indicated that a Political Affairs Committee has been established recently to research and study federal structures.  The Committee will visit the Scandinavian countries by end March on study tours to familiarise themselves on federal models.  Already, experts from the Canadian based Forum for Federation, and Mr. Ian Martin, international Advisor on human rights, have lectured the Committee.

The parties reviewed the last six sessions of talks and took stock of the process.  The delegations were of the view that rehabilitation efforts needed to be intensified, and parallel political issues required greater attention.

The delegations were informed by the World Bank that procedural matters relating to the North-East Reconstruction Fund (NERF) have been finalised and the Fund has become operational.  With this development, donors are now in a position to make contributions to the Fund, which will, in turn, facilitate funding of projects already approved by the Sub Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN).