GoSL must start talks based on ISGA- Jaffna NGOs

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 December 2004, 04:22 GMT]
"If peace and goodwill are to prevail, the Government of Sri Lanka should come forward to discuss without delay the Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals put forward by the LTTE. The proposals represent the collective will of all NorthEast Tamils," said Rev. Father Jeyakumar on behalf of the consortium of NGOs at a meeting held Monday in Nallur, Jaffna. Academics from the South who were on a fact finding mission to Jaffna also participated in the meeting.

The 50-member southern delegation which was also on a mission to promote goodwill between the Tamil and Sinhala communities, consisted of Professor K. Deheragoda, Dean, Dept of Geography, Sri Jayawardenapura University, Professor Karunasekera, Rev. Pinnawela, Lecturer, Mr. R M K Ratnayake and students from the Geography Department.

Rev. Jeyakumar further said that peace is essential for rehabilitation and reconstruction work to be undertaken in the Jaffna Peninsula. Only an interim administration will allow such work to take place to fulfil the immediate humanitarian needs of the displaced people. "The question of a permanent solution can be taken up thereafter. It is not possible to discuss and resolve complex issues while the people are undergoing severe hardships," added Fr Jeyakumar.

"The High Security Zones (HSZs) have blocked the resettlement of over one hundred thousand displaced persons (IDPs). IDPs should be immediately resettled in their lands and normalcy restored," Fr Jeyakumar further said.