The position of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna against establishing
"Post Tsunami Relief Structure"

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From the Political bureau of the JVP (14 June 2005)

Her Excellency the President Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga
President house,
Colombo.


Your Excellency the President,

There is no doubt the tidal waves of Tsunami are the worst calamity to befall Sri Lanka in known history. This has proven to be a massive challenge to our country and the Alliance government. This massive challenge also presented an invaluable opportunity to transform a disaster into prosperity.

With a firm believe that we will be able to make Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay and other citizens stand on their feet yet again after the tragedy which engulfed the nation on the 26th December 2004. We, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna put forward a National programme to you and to the country to create a new nation. Even so our proposal did not receive the attention it deserved.

The foremost to render assistance of those affected by Tsunami were Buddhist monks, clergy of other denominations, workers, peasants, engineers, doctors, officers of the civil service and the civil society comprised of the citizenry. On this occasion all those who were affected by the Tsunami in every single district were aware that the "Sri Lanka Red Star" relief services volunteer force of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna rendered a yeoman service. It is also important to note that at the time of the disaster, exemplary service was given by the three Armed Forces and the Police Department in Sri Lanka.

Such exemplary massive relief operations were likewise carried out in the un-liberated areas of the North and Eastern provinces. It is important to state that at this juncture the Tigers of Tamil Elam were also looking on in a daze and utterly helpless.

Therefore it is patently obvious that they were unable to render help or involve themselves in relief operation at the outset or even now. They do not even have a desire do so.

To this day it has been primarily the Sri Lankan government who provided relief to all those who were affected by the Tsunami disaster including those in the un-liberated areas of Sri Lanka. Therefore it is apparent that such a mechanism already exists with in the government. However there exist certain shortcomings. It also noteworthy that the Tiger Organisation have no capability whatsoever to address these deficiencies adequately. In the face of such a situation it has been publicised that you have made an unilateral decision to arrive at an agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam to establish a Joint Mechanism or Post Tsunami Relief Structure or arrangements under various other names in the guise of providing reconstruction and relief services for the people of the North and Eastern provinces.

Under no circumstances are we able to agree with the manner in which you have set out to establish the so-called Joint Mechanism.

To establish such a Joint Mechanism in the name of the government is tantamount to a dictatorial act. The people are totally unaware of the content within this Joint Mechanism. The Cabinet and the parliament are also similarly unaware. According to what we perceive the only parties with full knowledge of the content within this Joint Mechanism are the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka, the Tiger Organisation and your Excellency.

It appears also that you are following in the footstep of the former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe who signed a Cease Fire Agreement on the 22nd February 2002 with the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in secret.

You will note that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, your Excellency together with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna condemned and initiated a course of action against that Cease Fire Agreement proposed by Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Due to unofficial news in circulation regarding your intention to establish a Joint Mechanism with the Tigers we communicated with you on the 17 March 2005 to ascertain the true facts regarding this Joint Mechanism. Your reply was that no firm decision will be made regarding the said Joint Mechanism without discussion and coming to an agreement with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and all other member parties of the Alliance.

Thereafter you called a meeting between yourself and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna on the 6th May 2005. At that meeting you brought to our attention certain facts regarding the Joint Mechanism. These facts were;


1. Structure of the JM
2. Authority vested in it
3. Its political and organisational constituents


Apart from these facts you have not divulged any other relevant details to us or the nation so far.

At the aforesaid meeting we indicated to you and made our protest against the establishment of the Joint Mechanism because it would bring grave harm to the nation and was politically totally inappropriate.

In establishing this Joint Mechanism we were of the opinion that you were elevating a terrorist organisation namely the Tamil Tiger Organisation to the same status of the government of Sri Lanka. Through this Joint Mechanism you will be paving the way for the Tamil Tiger terrorists to act on par with and to play the role of a government in the entire Northern and Eastern provinces whereas in reality they only have usurped armed control over 49 out of the total of 319 Grama Sevaka Division.

It is unconstitutional and further neither you nor anyone else has the right to handover to a terrorist organisation the power legally vested in the government by her people.

We reiterated our protest against the Joint Mechanism due to the fact stated above.

Following our meeting with you, we put forward a range of proposals regarding a National programme in relation to the reconstruction of the country after the Tsunami disaster to your Excellency for the second time on the 19th May 2005. It is regrettable that you do not appear to have paid any attention even to these proposals. According to the proposals submitted we have indicated that it is of the utmost importance to unite all political parties represented in the parliament, relevant professionals with expertise in the various fields, social scientists, economists, representatives of the business community, industrialists and all those who have rendered nationally significant service at the National, Provincial, District and Pradeshiya sabha level under the leadership of your Excellency. But this has not materialised.

In the face of all this facts, your Excellency made an autocratic decision to enter into an agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam to establish a Joint Mechanism and made a statement to the effect that it will be established regardless of whoever may oppose it.

In the midst of all this, there was a government advertisement in the press regarding a Tsunami Relief Structure which has already been in existence. It appears certain now that your Excellency will establish this so-called Joint Mechanism or Post Tsunami Relief Structure despite stringent opposition from one of the main partners of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, and without any opinions been sought from other constituent parties in the Alliance or its convening body, the parliament and the people of Sri Lanka.

This is hardly the way to maintain a healthy relationship between the members of a political alliance. This also, not the first instance that you have acted thus. Further, soon after the victory of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance, you violated the Memorandum of Understanding between the coalition partners pertaining to the number of ministries in the cabinet at the time ministerial portfolios were allocated. The assurance given to the people that the number of cabinet ministers will be limited to 35 was broken. Despite a pledge been given that no government institution will be privatised, a resolution was passed in the cabinet to dismantle the Sri Lanka Electricity Board and "re-structure" it in the face of an outcry of opposition from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. This cabinet decision was temporarily stalled as a result of vehement protest from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the employees of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board. There was even an attempt to sell the Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation shares owned by the government treasury.

It is noteworthy that these attempts were made in violation of both the Memorandum of Understanding within the alliance and the declaration of the policy, "Nation to the forefront" given by the Alliance to the people of Sri Lanka. On each of these occasions we forwarded to you our concerns in writing. We also appealed to you to act responsibly in order to maintain a cohesive existence with in the alliance.

We acted thus as we believed that no one had the right to destroy expectations enshrined in the alliance by the people of Sri Lanka. It is clear to us now that you are on the path to make a grave political error with the full knowledge of the real consequences and total disregard of the fact presented to you.

We oppose it categorically in unison. The reason for our opposition to this serious political misdemeanour is due to the following inevitable consequences.

1. It will enable an illegal terrorist organisation, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam who have no mandate whatsoever from any citizen of Sri Lanka to sit together as equal partners with a duly elected sovereign government of a nation and carry out task which could rightfully be performed by a government with the mandate from the people.

2. Handing over of the authority vested in a sovereign government by the people to another organisation.

3. Accepting yet again that the North and Eastern provinces are the traditional homeland of the Tamil people.

4. The proposed Joint Mechanism not only goes far beyond the boundaries of the Ceasefire Agreement signed by Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe by designating that certain areas in the North and East provinces were to be under the control of the Tamil Tigers but also denies the fundamental democratic rights of the innocent Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala people in the entire North and East area and subjugating them to the fascist control of these Tamil tiger terrorists.

5. The acceptance of the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil People.

6. Ignoring the Muslim people who were severely affected by the Tsunami disaster and denying the necessity of their representation. Further placing the Muslim and Sinhala people living in those areas at the mercy of the Tiger dictatorship.

7. Paving the way for the Tiger organisation to be equal partners with the government when there had been no guarantee given by the Tamil Tiger terrorists that they will join the democratic stream.

8. It also violates the fiscal policies and the administration and institutional acts of Sri Lanka.

9. By placing the plight of the democratically elected parliamentarians in the North and Eastern provinces under the jack boot of the Tamil tiger terrorist.

10. This also gives a fillip to the notion that there exists an established administration under the control of the Tamil Tiger terrorists.

11. Violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the nation of Sri Lanka.

Taking into consideration all these facts, your Excellency has no right to enter into any Joint Mechanism between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger Organisation.


Therefore we urge you to desist from forming any Joint Mechanism with the Tamil Tiger terrorist prior to the deadline of the 15th June 2005.

We appeal to you to give your leadership towards the formation of a centre for national development utilising the combined energies, efforts and resources of the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people in Sri Lanka, whilst the monetary assistance given to Sri Lanka by the international community will be used appropriately and with the utmost intelligence.

We hereby give notice that unless you withdraw from your decision to establish this Joint Mechanism the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna will have no option other than to disassociate completely from the United Peoples Freedom Alliance.

Yours faithfully,


M. Tilvin Silva
General Secretary,
On behalf of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
!0th June 2005


Copies: General Secretary- Sri Lanka Freedom Party
General Secretary- United Peoples Freedom Alliance
All media institutions


 

JM,Giving recognition to the myth of Tamil terrorists being the sole representatives of the Tamil people

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From the Political bureau of the JVP (10 June 2005)

A) The Tsunami Tragedy

Areas close to the coastline of the North, East, South and Western provinces of Sri Lanka were affected by the Tsunami disaster. The official report indicates that 202,742 families in these provinces were affected in all; 84,735 being displaced.

I.Status of the North and East

Out of a total of 202,742 families affected by the Tsunami disaster, 118,288 live in the North and Eastern provinces and 84,222 live in the South and Western provinces of Sri Lanka. 232 families live in the Puttlam District of the Wyamba province. It is therefore quite clear that the majority of families affected by the Tsunami live in the North and East.

II. Displaced families

The majority of the displaced families were also from the North and East. However the vast majority of the buildings and properties destroyed by the Tsunami were in the South and Western provinces. The indication is therefore, that the majority of the families affected by the Tsunami were in the North and East whilst the largest amounts of 'man made' structures destroyed were in the South and Western provinces.

III. The impact of the Tsunami in the 'un-liberated' areas where the effectiveness of Government control is poor.

Of the total area affected by the Tsunami in the North and East, only a small proportion is in the 'un-liberated' part. This area is under the control of the Tamil Tiger terrorists. The total Tsunami affected area in Sri Lanka is 1124 Sq Km, of which a rather small 281 Sq Km is in the un-liberated area.

IV. Areas affected on the basis of 'Grama Sevaka' divisions.

On the above basis a total of 658 'Grama Sevaka' divisions have been affected by the Tsunami. Of these less than 49 divisions affected by the Tsunami are under direct control of Tamil Tiger terrorists. The remainder of the 'Grama Sevaka' divisions numbering 609 are under effective control of the Government of Sri Lanka. While more than 93% of the 'Grama Sevaka' divisions affected by the Tsunami in Sri Lanka are under SL Government control, less than 7% are under Tamil Tiger terrorist control.

V. 'Un-liberated' areas on the basis of property damage.

On the above basis, whilst 85% of such areas are under effective Government control, only 15% come under the 'un-liberated' areas under the control of Tamil Tiger terrorists.

VI. A comparison between the total area affected by the Tsunami in the North and East and 'un-liberated' areas.

If we consider specially the North and Eastern provinces, it is clear that only 319 'Grama Sevaka' divisions have been affected by the Tsunami. Of these 319 divisions, 270 are under Government control and 49 are in the 'un-liberated' areas. Despite this, in these 49 ('un-liberated') 'Grama Sevaka' areas the Government of Sri Lanka plays a significant role in the Administration, Education, and other official capacities.

VII. Tsunami affected people on the basis of Ethnicity in the North and East.

The majority of those affected by the Tsunami in the North and East, and those living in the 'Grama Sevaka' divisions in these areas are Muslims. There are but few 'Grama Sevaka' divisions (in North and East) where the majority are Sinhalese.

B) Reconstruction of Tsunami affected areas and supply of humanitarian needs.

If we consider all these facts, it is feasible that the Government of Sri Lanka could reconstruct and supply humanitarian needs to all the areas affected by the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. However it is important to have a special program for reconstruction by winning the support of all the political parties represented in Parliament and also other groups which have legal recognition in Sri Lanka.

I. Initial proposal by JVP.

By taking all the aforementioned facts into serious consideration, the JVP forwarded an outline of a special program in relation to the Tsunami disaster to H E the President on the 10th January 2005. We took steps to inform the public in Sri Lanka as to what needed to be done to face this national disaster as a result of the Tsunami.

Despite this the President did not even consider the necessity to have a dialogue with the JVP regarding the submission.

We outlined in our submission the importance of obtaining the support of all religious leaders, Democratic political parties, professionals, academics, the business community, and various social groups in order to revive the entire nation including the North and East of Sri Lanka. We mentioned in our submission the relevant framework and other important decisions to be taken in this regard.

II. Subsequent proposals by JVP.

Upon learning that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers were contemplating the establishment of a special mechanism involving the North and East as ONE entity, the JVP forwarded an alternative proposal on 19th May 2005, to the President and the Nation.

NAMELY: "THE SPECIAL MECHANISM TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO RECONSTRUCT THE TSUNAMI AFFECTED AREAS"

For this purpose the enlistment of support from the following have been suggested:

1) All political parties represented in Parliament.

2) Government officials.

3) Academics, Professionals, and the local Business community.

4) Senior citizens who have a proven record of a positive impact for the country in various fields.

In our submission we have included a framework to unite all the above groups. Included in the above also, for the purpose of relief operations, we have suggested the formation of a National Council and Divisional Secretarial sections. In addition to this we proposed the formation of an "Observation body for the reconstruction of Tsunami affected areas". The President did not take any steps to have an effective dialogue with regard to any of these proposals.

C)Why are we against the proposal for the joint mechanism or Tsunami relief secretariat?

We have presented in our submissions, proposals as to how the Government of Sri Lanka should conduct the Tsunami relief reconstruction process. Without formulating a suitable program by discussing the above proposals, the President, a few members of the Government together with Tamil Tiger terrorists had discussions and decided to form this "Joint Mechanism under the guise of Tsunami Rehabilitation Work. The JVP categorically reject these decisions.

I.  The reasons for this are:

" The writ of a sovereign Government cannot be handed over to an illegally armed organisation. " A legally elected caretaker Government of a sovereign nation cannot sublet its writ to any small or large group of armed separatists. " It is impossible and unethical to do so according to accepted democratic principles. " it is unacceptable to us even to propose through a legal structure for the Government of Sri Lanka to work together with a group of armed separatist terrorists. " When the people hand over the custody and governing power of their nation legally to a Government, the said Government or the leader has no right to sublet its power illegally to another organisation or person. " Thus by establishing a Tsunami relief structure, the Government of Sri Lanka is attempting to hand over a part of her power legally vested in them by the people to a group of armed terrorists. " Whatever the extent of such power it is totally wrong.

II. The above is on par with the ultimate intention by the Tamil terrorists to establish a separate state.

On 21st Feb 2001, the previous UNF Government paved the way for establishment of "Tamil Ealam" by signing the cease fire agreement.

On The LTTE terrorists used this agreement as a launching pad to progressively gain recognition legally.

By means of this agreement the LTTE terrorists obtained military recognition for their armed power. By these means they are now able to officially name the areas snatched illegally by them as "Tamil terrorist controlled areas".

On the basis of this agreement, they have also been able to establish and continue Diplomatic relations. These are the primary requirements according to international law for the purpose establishing a separate breakaway state.

Since then the Tamil terrorists have always attempted to advance this "Diplomatic status".

The ISGA (Interim Self Governing Authority) was mooted in order to obtain this status in one step at the highest level. The establishment of a Tsunami relief structure goes well with the intention of the strategy necessary as a physical requirement to establish a separate state by the Tamil terrorists.

By doing so, for the first time the Tamil terrorist organisation LTTE will become a main legal constituent of the Sri Lankan Administrative structure within a merged North and East. By this, it means the Government of Sri Lanka accepts in a roundabout fashion the sole decision making power of the Tamil Tiger terrorists for monetary expenditure of the North and East. If the Tamil Tiger terrorists are able to obtain the status of a Government officially, it will enable them to win a major victory to establish a separate state.

If this is established it will not be possible to stop the Tamil terrorists from dealing with foreign donor agencies and various foreign state institutions, by virtue of "Diplomatic relations".

III. "Giving recognition to the myth of Tamil terrorists being the sole representatives of the Tamil people".

As a consequence we are accepting the false idea that the LTTE are the sole representatives of the Tamil people.

According to the facts reviewed so far, only the representatives named by the Tamil Tiger organisation will be in the committees for the Tamil people. This therefore gives official approval to the LTTE's Fascist ideals.

IV. By establishing the Joint Mechanism for the North and Eastern provinces one would be validating the concept of the "so called Tamil Homeland"

Establishing the Joint mechanism would result in the creation of a separate North Eastern province as a result of merging the North and East. This is completely wrong whichever way it is considered. By merging the North and East and establishing a Tsunami relief structure officially and affording more power to the Tamil Tiger terrorists, it will inevitably give official recognition to the concept of the North and East being the traditional Homeland of the Tamil people.

V. Neglecting the majority of people affected by the Tsunami.

In the North and Eastern provinces, the majority of those affected by the Tsunami have been Muslims. For this reason any structure established for Tsunami relief work in the North and East must contain majority Muslim representation. This has not been the case. Instead the Muslim representatives have been suppressed by the Tamil terrorists. Even the Sinhala people have been victimised. Those Tamil people unwilling to accept the fascist rule of the Tamil terrorists have also been victimised.

VI. Hidden agendas being launched in secret.

In 1987 President J.R. Jayewardene, in 2001, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe signed the Indo Lanka pact and Cease fire agreement respectively, hiding the contents from the country, without obtaining approval from their own Cabinet and Parliament. Similarly, the Tsunami relief structure is being fashioned in the same manner. So far this Tsunami relief document has not been disclosed to the JVP, one of the major partners of this "Alliance" Government.

It has also not been submitted to the Cabinet and Parliament. In the same manner this is taking the "JR" - "Ranil" tradition further. It is clearly undemocratic.

VII. The official mechanism for Tsunami relief to Tiger terrorists when they continue to commit murders.

The Tamil Tiger terrorists continue to assassinate Government Intelligence Officers. They abduct and unarmed Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim civilians. They abduct and recruit Tamil children to their organisation.

The Tamil terrorists steal Galvanised roofing material to build their bunkers in front and around the Naga Kovil security zone in Jaffna.

Considering the aforementioned and unmentioned criminal acts of the Tamil Tiger terrorists, it is patently obvious they have not made any effort whatsoever to engage in peaceful, Democratic, politics. Therefore it is not right to share Governmental responsibilities with them.

It is not an encouragement for peace or Democracy but legitimising their continuing terrorist activities.

VIII. Belittling Peoples' representatives.

For establishment of this" Tiger mechanism" and any of its high level structure, there is no representation of North and East Members of Parliament and all other political parties. This indicates suppression of representatives elected by the people by the Tamil Tiger terrorists. This also belittles the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of all these facts the JVP reject the formation of "Joint mechanism" or "Tsunami Relief Structure" decisively, and have decided to take a number of drastic actions
 

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