Colombo, Nov 02: Sri Lanka's third-largest political party today criticised a Tamil Tiger proposal for self-rule and urged the government not to negotiate with the rebels. "This is a virtual declaration of independence, and no sovereign government should even have a second look at the proposal," said Thilan Silva, general secretary of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Party.

The Tigers made the proposal to the government on Friday. Silva said the JVP will prepare what he called an "action plan" to stop the division of Sri Lanka. He did not elaborate, however.

The rebels' proposal calls for the withdrawal of the Sri Lankan Army from private lands in the Tamil-dominated northeast of the country. It would give the rebels the right to maintain law and order in the region, collect taxes, and oversee all civil administration matters currently exercised by the government in Colombo. It also proposes a separate Election Commission. Sri Lanka's government has said the proposal differs fundamentally from its plan for the area.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka asked Norway to help organise a meeting with the rebels in the coming weeks to set the stage for negotiations, the government's chief peace negotiator said today.

At the meeting, to be held later this month or in early December, the government wants to address a range of preliminary matters in order to pave the way for the resumption of substantive talks very early next year," Tamil Tiger negotiator G L Peiris said. Bureau Report