TNA briefs Akashi on urgent need for IA in NE

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2003, 16:45 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), led by its parliamentary group leader, Mr.R.Sampanthan, Friday told the Japanese special peace envoy, Mr.Yasushi Akashi, that an interim administrative structure with adequate powers is urgently needed to rebuild the war ravaged northeastern province as the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has no political power to implement a permanent political solution to the ethnic conflict immediately, sources said.

"Thousands of displaced people who return to their homes would get disappointed if we failed to provide immediate relief and other assistance to them and it would have a negative impact on the present peace process," the TNA delegation pointed out to Mr. Akashi, according to sources close to the TNA.

The interim administrative structure for the northeast should be established without delay in order to fulfill the humanitarian needs of thousands of displaced Tamil families who are returning to their homes since the signing of the ceasefire agreement by the GoSL and the LTTE, political sources said.

The TNA delegation said its expectation is that the response of the LTTE to the GoSL's interim administration proposals certainly would be for more powers but it might not go beyond the Oslo declaration, in reply to a query by Mr. Akashi, sources said.

The TNA delegation comprised parliamentarians Messrs R. Sampanthan, V.Anandasangaree, A.Vinayagamoorthy, Mavai Senathirajah and K.Thangavadivel. The delegation met Mr. Akashi at the official residence of the Japanese ambassador in Colombo Friday evening.

The political secretary of the Japanese embassy also participated in the discussion, which commenced around 6.05 p.m. and concluded at about 6.50 p.m., TNA sources said.

The TNA delegation further brought to the notice of Mr. Akashi the non-cooperation of the GoSL's security forces in resettling thousands of internally displaced people, now languishing in refugee camps and welfare camps, in their homes, both inside and out of the areas declared as high security zones by the forces. All IDPs should be resettled in their own homes and lands without any further delay, the TNA delegation stressed.

According to sources, Mr. Akashi told the TNA delegation that funds would be channeled for the reconstruction of the devastated northeast province only after the recommencement of the peace talks between the GoSL and the LTTE.

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