PA media spokesman meets Jaffna journalists

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 December 2003, 16:44 GMT]
The media spokesman of the main opposition People's Alliance, Dr.Sarath Amunugama, Wednesday met with a group of Jaffna-based journalists at the parliamentary complex and answered several questions posed to him on the current political situation.

"The PA is prepared to extend its support to the Prime Minister to take forward the peace process. However the President and Prime Minister must jointly take all decisions in regard to the peace talks at the final stage," he said.

Dr. Amunugama said that only two parties that have submitted their proposals in writing to find a political solution to the conflict are the Peoples' Alliance and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Therefore, these two parties can participate in the peace talks.

The United National Party even now has not submitted its proposals in writing to find a political solution to the conflict and also it has not given its response to the interim self-governing authority proposals of the LTTE, he added.

He said the proposed PA-JVP alliance is only for meeting the next general election." We could get some bonus seats if the proposed alliance between PA and JVP materialized. However, we have told the JVP about our stand on the ceasefire and devolution of power. Therefore, our position will not change if we come to power," he said.

Dr. Amunugama said in reply to a question that there was no need for fear about another war in the country if PA came to power. “Not only the PA, but even the UNP and JVP had not accepted the LTTE's interim self-governing authority proposals. The LTTE has also said that its ISGA proposals could be considered as the basis for future talks,” he said.

According to him, the PA has no intention of ousting Norway from its facilitator role. The question of high security zones, he said, could be settled once the peace talks reach a favorable stage towards a permanent solution.

Dr. Amunugama said further that the abolishment of executive presidency solely depended on the extent of co-operation given by the Prime Minister. “Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge could continue for another two years as the executive president of the country under the present Constitution," he reminded the journalists.