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| Friday, 28 November 2003 |
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| Peace Process: President, PM on same wavelength - Hakeem Both President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are on the same wavelength as far as their commitment to the peace process, Minister Rauff Hakeem told Parliament yesterday. "It is clear that the President, who took over the three ministries citing national security concerns, has not changed anything fundamental from what her predecessor as defence minister was doing. The President has, by word and deed, not done anything to jeopardise the peace process," Minister Hakeem said. The Minister commended the Prime Minister for showing utmost restraint and not exacerbating the situation by trying to impeach the President. This demonstrates political maturity and acumen of the highest order by the Prime Minister. He said the present hiatus affords a "window of opportunity" for us to take stock of the situation before re-engaging in peace negotiations. "It may be timely for the government to re-asses its set of proposals presented in July this year and commence immediate discussions with the PA and incorporate their suggestions before negotiations with the LTTE re-commences." The Minister added that the government should show a degree of flexibility and moderation in responding to the President's longstanding request for a role for her in the peace process. This is an eminently fair and legitimate request. "Moreover, the President has demonstrated her total commitment to finding a durable political solution. In acceding to her request, the government's own negotiating position vis-a-vis the LTTE would be greatly enhanced. The fact that the government proposal has the concurrence of the President would serve a dual purpose of ensuring that her party (PA) would not be able to scuttle any settlement between the government and the LTTE and also more importantly both major parties in the South would be able to jointly campaign in support of a negotiated settlement at a popular referendum to which both have committed themselves." He called upon both parties to "build on the Liam Fox Agreement as the basis for the UNF government and the PA to adopt a bi-partisan approach to the resolution of the ethnic conflict". "While certain quarters try to assert that the mandate of the UNF government of December 2001 supersedes the popular mandate of the President at the 1999 Presidential elections, this is a position that the SLMC, even as a constituent member of the UNF government cannot endorse." |
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