Joint mechanism will give new life to ISGA- JVP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 April 2005, 15:14 GMT]
Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe, leader of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a major constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government said Tuesday at a press briefing in Colombo that the proposed Joint Mechanism (JM) with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will be a stepping-stone for the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) for NorthEast, sources said.

All powers of the ISGA would be conferred to the LTTE through the joint mechanism proposed by a section of the UPFA government, Mr.Amarasinghe said.

"We will be giving a new life to LTTE's ISGA with the signing of the joint mechanism. This cannot be allowed at any cost. How can we hand over the disbursement of funds to the LTTE, an unlawful body, through the JM?" Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe queried.

"The JVP is not alone in opposing the joint mechanism. I am glad to tell that several political groups in the island are coming forward to oppose the joint mechanism with us," said Mr.Amarawanse.

"We should bring democracy in the northeast. First we should create a democratic structure in the east. Thereafter we can go to the north. We are sure that we can make this goal a reality with the support of other political groups which are opposing joint mechanism," Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe said.

Mr.Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP said the UPFA has no mandate to sign an agreement with the LTTE for a joint mechanism regarding the rehabilitation and rehabilitation of tsunami affected northeast. "We have clearly informed our opposition to the joint mechanism to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and its President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge. But we have not been informed about SLFP's stand in this regard," said Mr.Tilvin Silva.