SLFP, UNP should act together to recommence negotiations - NLF

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 August 2004, 02:57 GMT]
"It is indeed absolutely incumbent on the two so-called major parties (UNP and SLFP) to get their act together to recommence negotiations and take them forward fruitfully to an equitable outcome, especially because it is these two parties that are irrefutably responsible, jointly and severally, for the sins of omission and commission that triggered the 20 year long war," Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne, the leader of the New Left Front (NLF), told TamilNet in an interview Monday.

Commenting on the present state of the peace process in Sri Lanka, he said, "it is totally ludicrous for anyone to say, Nero-style, that the present Constitution cannot accommodate a body such as the ISGA. For, the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement (or MOU), which is outside the present constitution, has found acceptance, both locally and internationally."

"The ISGA proposals came to be presented by the LTTE in October 2003 since the proposals that the previous UNP- led Ranil Wickramasinghe government had submitted earlier (twice over) were regarded by the LTTE and the Tamils at large as unsatisfactory, being devoid of powers in the most vital areas such as land and security," reminded the NLF leader.

Added Dr. Karunaratne: "What is of the utmost urgency is to recommence negotiations on the ISGA so as to obviate resumption of the horrendous war for the greater good of the whole country without surrendering the country's sovereignty to the predatory forces of global capital."

Mr. Vallipuram Thirunavukkarasu, politburo member of the NLF, who was associated with Dr. Karunaratne in the interview, said "time is of the essence, and President Chandrika has to act fast with foresight, prudence and courage to save the country. "

The current leadership of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramunai (JVP), including Mr. Wimal Weerawansa and Tilvin Silva, jointly campaigned with the NLF in a Marxist alliance during the 2000 general elections. After the JVP entered parliament with five seats, however, the JVP leaders severed their ties with the NLF, saying that in their interpretation, Marxism rejected the right to self-determination of the Tamil people.