TULF urges President to start talks with LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 August 2001, 07:00 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Wednesday urged Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge to pursue the Norwegian peace initiative and commence negotiations with the Liberation Tigers before framing a new constitution. A press statement issued by the TULF, after meeting the President on Wednesday, said that the party had urged the President to "reconvene Parliament and also not to proceed with the referendum."

The following is the full text of the press release by the TULF.

"A delegation of the TULF comprising Mr.R.Sampanthan, Secretary General, Senior Vice President and Parliamentarian Mr.V.Anandasangaree, Parliamentarians Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham, Mr.Mavai Senathirajah, Mr.P.Selvarasa and Mr.S.Sivamaharasa and Jaffna Mayor Mr.N.Raviraj met President Chandrika at the invitation of the latter at the President's House.

"President Chandrika explained to the TULF delegation the events and circumstances, which led to the calling of the referendum on a proposed new constitution, originally fixed for August 21. The TULF delegation then explained to the President the decisions made unanimously at its central working committee meeting held on August 5 and handed over to her a copy of the resolution.

"The TULF delegation emphasized the importance and need to pursue the Norwegian initiative and commence negotiations with the LTTE prior to the framing of a new constitution.

"The TULF urged that since some progress had already been made through the efforts of Norway towards the commencement of negotiations between the Government and the LTTE, the outstanding issues should be resolved through further negotiations, and that the issues which remained unresolved were not insurmountable.

"The TULF also emphasized the imperative need to bring the war to an end through an acceptable negotiated political settlement so that the Tamil people would be relieved from the immense suffering to which they are subjected by the continuance of the war.

"The President explained that the Government remains committed to the peace process, and the continuance of the Norwegian initiative.

"The TULF delegation also urged the President to reconvene Parliament and also not to proceed with the Referendum as presently contemplated."