JVP urged to remain in APRC

Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: Appealing to the JVP not to disrupt efforts to find a political solution to the ethnic conflict, the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) chief said the JVP should push their opinions whilst remaining in the body.

APRC Chairman Prof.Tissa Vitharana said the APRC has made good progress and was contemplating a framework acceptable to the Tamils as well as others.

"We need to win over the Tamil people. The LTTE cannot survive without the support of the Tamil people."

Emphasising the need to reach a common consensus, Minister Vitharana said the LTTE will come to serious talks when the Tamil people are convinced of the solution proposed by the Southern parties.

"They are pulling out over trivial issues.

I can understand, if we have come to a conclusion over this," he retorted responding on the JVP's announcement yesterday.

"The paper in question was a preliminary observation report submitted by the expert committee," he said.

"This is not a final document. The observations were intended to be discussed within the APRC and was open for inputs from the party representatives."

They were to reach a common ground on the observations and put forward a final document before the APC and the President for consideration as a basis for future discussions and a political solution.

The JVP at the weekly APRC meeting at the Peace Secretariat office on Monday read out a statement announcing their withdrawal.

A press conference chaired by JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe was held yesterday.

The Leftist party said their decision was taken considering the APRCs approach overlooking its mandate to propose a framework for a solution.

They said it was not their mandate to propose constitutional reforms. Prof. Vitharana said he and several other constituent members of the APRC appealed to the JVP for their continued support in the effort to find a political solution to the ethnic strife.