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By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Hope has dawned across the Sri Lankan political horizon that a joint mechanism between the
Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to oversee all post - tsunami
rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction activity in the North - Eastern province will be set
up by Sinhala - Tamil new year in mid - April this year.
The LTTE political wing head Suppiah Paramu Thamilselvan has informed Norwegian Foreign
minister Jan Petersen that his organization is prepared to compromise on the Post - tsunami
joint mechanism for the North - Eastern province and accept diluted structural and functional
powers in the interests of the affected Tamil people.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga too is supportive of the arrangement in principle but is yet
to give her formal assent to the project. She is expected to do so after consulting key elements
in her cabinet.
Mr. Tamilchelvan who is leading a tiger delegation on a political tour of Europe revealed this to
a gathering of tiger activists in Oslo after meeting with Norwegian officials including Petersen,
deputy foreign minister Vidar Helgessen and special envoy Erik Solheim.
The LTTE's readiness to climb down from its earlier stance is regarded widely as a tremendous
breakthrough because the way is now clear from one end for setting up a joint mechanism to
plan, supervise and coordinate all post - tsunami relief, resettlement and reconstruction activity
in the North - East.
The LTTE had been given a document outlining the contours of a joint mechanism by
Norwegian officials prior to Thamilselvans departure from Sri Lanka. The document was drafted
by special envoy Erik Solheim in consultation with tiger political adviser Anton Balasingham in
London. Thereafter it was sent to the LTTE leader Velupillai Pirapakaran by Balasingham
It was examined in detail by the LTTE hierarchy in Kilinochchi including the supreme leader
Velupillai Pirapakaran and formally approved.
His affirmative decision however was conveyed directly to Norway by Thamilselvan at the official
meeting in Oslo.
The document submitted by Oslo incorporated details of the Governments position on the
joint mechanism. The Government had taken up quite a hard stance on a number of provisions
on the question.
"Given the LTTE inflexibility on the Interim Self - Government issue few expected the tigers to
agree on a watered down version of what the organization originally demanded" Western
diplomatic circles told "TamilWeek". "We are pleasantly surprised and greatly relieved that they
have done so" the sources added.
"It is now up to the Sri Lankan government to take the next step and we understand that Oslo
has contacted President Chandrika Kumaratunga on this matter" the sources further said.
Speaking to tiger activists in Oslo Thamilselvan told the gathering that the Norwegian foreign
minister had telephoned President Kumaratunga and informed her of the LTTE's willingness.
"Since we asked Norway to get an explicit guarantee from Kumaratunga that her government
was united in setting up a joint mechanism we believe the request was conveyed to the
President" he said.
Tamilselvan further said that the President had asked for time to peruse it in detail and
expressed the hope that the government will be willing in spite of divided opinion within its
ranks. Thamilselvan made this reference in the context of the JVP saying that it opposes even
the setting up of a joint mechanism with the LTTE.
While the JVP has stated openly that it is opposed to the joint mechanism with LTTE proposal
political observers feel that Kumaratunga too is determined to go ahead with the project
regardless of JVP objections.
The draft agreement on the joint mechanism was forged after several rounds of talks between
Govt delegations led by peace secretariat director Jayantha Dhanapala and a tiger delegation
led by LTTE peace secretariat coordinator Pulithevan. The talks were facilitated by Oslo envoy
in Colombo Hans Brattskar.
It is learnt that a great deal of agreement was reached in these discussions itself. Nevertheless
some crucial areas of disagreement remained. These were ironed out by Norway
One problematic area was the clause about shipping men and matrial by sea to the N - E for
reconstruction purposes. The LTTE had insisted on it while Colombo refused to permit it due to
security concerns. Now a compromise has been fashioned by Oslo. A Scandinavian monitor
and Sri Lankan naval official will accompany vessels ferrying materials to the North - East to
prevent any violation of the ceasefire.
Explaining the LTTE position further Tamilselvan stated that though the proposed joint
mechanism was not satisfactory the tigers were accepting it in the interests of the affected
Tamil people
"More than two months have passed since the tsunami. Our people are suffering. Nothing
tangible is happening. The international community wants to help us. But they want to do only
through a joint mechanism with the Government. They urged us to accept even an imperfect
mechanism and work to improve it. They said that if Colombo does not set up one or sabotages
the mechanism then we could walk out. If that happens the international community could help
us directly I think" announced Thamilselvan
Elaborating further the tiger political commissar said "The joint mechanism will be basically
tripartite with the Government, Muslim people and we participating. It is not permanently binding
and any party can withdraw from the mechanism if matters are unsatisfactory. Only two weeks
notice has to be given".
Continuing Thamilselvan said that the structure will be three - tiered with an apex committee,
regional committee and district committees.
The apex committee will be in charge of obtaining funds and officially allocating them. The
regional committee will be in charge of policy decisions like planning and prioritising
rehabilitation projects; the district committees will execute and supervise the projects at ground
level.
The apex committee will have a Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim. The regional committee will have
five Tamils, three Muslims and two Sinhalese. Muslims will represent the three eastern districts
while two Sinhalese will represent Amparai and Trincomalee districts. The Tamil representation
will be one each for Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Amparai, Mullaitheevu and one for Jaffna -
Kilinochchi districts.
Though the LTTE wanted one each for all six affected districts thereby having a six out of
eleven position in the regional committee the tigers have now agreed to five out of ten.
This gives the North - Eastern minorities - Muslims and Sinhalese - countervailing power
through balanced representation to contain the Tamil majority overriding them. Ironically the
same "fifty - fifty" principle was advocated by former Tamil Congress leader G.G Ponnambalam
before the Soulbury Commission as a minority safeguard. Only he wanted all minorities to be
one half and the Sinhala majority the other.
The district committees will be set up according to the ethnic ratio in each district. The GA's
and district secretaries of all six districts will be involved in the committees in addition to other
nominees. Various experts too may be included.
The rehabilitation work envisages the Government, Private sector and NGO's both local and
international being involved in it.
The proposed joint mechanism will get to decide what, when, where and how projects will be
implemented. "it will determine what is to be done, where it is to be done, when it is to be done
and how it is to be done in addition to deciding who is to do it".
The Mechanism will not be called as one applicable to the North - East. The nomenclature will
avoid geographical reference. In practice the joint mechanism will function as six autonomous
bodies in each district.
A fund will be set up under the apex committee. All money coming in from abroad will have to
be given directly to the Government. It is only the government that will allocate money to the
joint mechanism. The joint mechanism cannot obtain money directly from any source other than
the government.
The LTTE will nominate all Tamil representatives and the Government all Sinhala
representatives to the body. The Muslims will be nominated by Muslim Parliamentarians from
the affected regions.
This is the first time that both the Govt and LTTE have agreed to allow independent third party
status for the Muslims.
According to proposed terms of reference for the joint mechanism it will not have jurisdiction
over all six affected north - Eastern districts. It will only be applicable to directly affected coastal
areas in each district. The powers too will be strictly project related and not all encompassing.
Moreover the mechanism will have a limited time frame and will have to be wound up after a
specific time.
It will also be transparent and accountable and have international monitors overseeing
accounts and actual work in progress.
Since allocation of finances will be made by the Government any irregularity could result in
funding being cut off.
Western diplomatic sources told "TamilWeek" that international pressure on the Govt and
LTTE was exerted to set up a joint mechanism as a "pilot" project for further cooperation. "It
was felt that if a common tragedy could not unite the people nothing else will. If the warring
parties could not get together for this purpose then the international community may have
abandoned Sri Lanka. We are happy now that everything is turning out positively" they said.
It was only last week that President Kumaratunga declared publicly that no money had been
received for tsunami relief from the international community despite immense pledges being
made.
According to diplomatic sources the joint mechanism if implemented well could result in two
things. "It could lay the foundation and evolve parameters for an interim self - governing
authority for the North - East. Those opposing the LTTE demand could become more flexible
on that. Likewise the LTTE too may become convinced in the long run that an ISGA is not
necessary for development and opt to go along with prevailing structures" they speculated.
Asked as to what would happen if the JVP opposed this move and withdrew from the
Government the diplomatic sources replied. "That will be a calamity. We hope good sense will
prevail and the JVP will see reason. If however that does happen then the international
community will have to ensure that affected people get relief and rehabilitation. Other avenues
of helping them will have to be looked into. 60% of tsunami damage in the Country is in the
North - East. More than two - thirds of people affected are Tamils and Muslims" they said
What is unknown still is what stance the JVP will take on the issue. It is expected that
Kumaratunga will do her best to convince the JVP of the necessity to set up a joint mechanism.
Failure to do so will result in a cut back on pledged international aid to Sri Lanka while affected
areas in North - East may get help through NGO's.
Political analysts feel that Kumaratunga is prepared to risk even a collapse of her government
through a JVP withdrawal on this issue. "She is ready for dissolution of Parliament and a new
election" they say.
Analysts feel that the LTTE is greatly flexible because it is on a better footing. The LTTE that
has formulated a massive rehabilitation plan amounting to 1,455 US $ Million dollars needs
international aid for this. It also requires legitimacy of official position. Reduced powers is not a
major obstacle as the tigers hope to exercise actual power on a larger scale on ground through
its unorthodox methods.
If the joint mechanism proposal fails due to problems within the Government then LTTE
credibility could increase. Since N- E civilians are affected most the international community will
be constrained to provide some aid to alleviate their suffering observers point out.
If everything is positive the new mechanism will be underway before April new year said
informed sources.
