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Top LTTE delegation to leave for Paris tomorrow
Colombo, Aug 19: A top delegation of the Tamil Tiger rebels is set to leave for Paris tomorrow to engage in a week-long discussion with its foreign, legal and constitutional experts to fine-tune its counter proposals for the government`s fresh offer for an interim administrative structure in the north-east.
Colombo, Aug 19: A top delegation of the Tamil Tiger rebels is set to leave for Paris tomorrow to engage in a week-long discussion with its foreign, legal and constitutional experts to fine-tune its counter proposals for the government's fresh offer for an interim administrative structure in the north-east.
According to diplomatic sources, the 10-member delegation of the LTTE led by its political wing head S P Thamilselvan and comprising its eastern special commander 'Colonel' Karuna and economic advisor Dr Jay Maheshwaran would be reaching Colombo today in a special air force helicopter from the Wanni to leave for Paris tomorrow to join another 10-member delegation for discussion.
The sources said altogether there would be 20 top members of the rebels who would be analysing the ''pros and cons of its counter proposals'' from August 22 to 28 before finalising them. Although the Norwegian facilitators have assisted this meeting to be organised in Paris in terms of logistical matters, they will not partake in the discussions since they said it was purely an internal affair of the rebels. Thamilselvan yesterday said that after their counter proposals were fine-tuned in Paris, they would be presented to the elusive leader Velupillai Prabhakaran for his approval before being forwarded to the government through the facilitators.
''I think we will be able to submit our counter proposals before the end of September,'' he said.
He also said the LTTE was now engaged in serious discussion with the other Tamil parties with regard to its counter proposals for the creation of an interim council for the war-ravaged provinces of the island nation. He, however, ruled out any discussion with the anti-LTTE Tamil parties such as the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and the EPRLF (Varathan faction) claiming that they were not considered as ''democratically elected'' representatives of the Tamil people. Thamilselvan added that interests and safety of all communities living in the region would be given due consideration in the counter proposals.
The government submitted its fresh offer on July 17 for the establishment of an interim council giving wider powers and participation to the LTTE. The rebels who rejected twice the government's previous proposals, are now drawing their reaction in the form of counter proposals.
Bureau Report
The sources said altogether there would be 20 top members of the rebels who would be analysing the ''pros and cons of its counter proposals'' from August 22 to 28 before finalising them. Although the Norwegian facilitators have assisted this meeting to be organised in Paris in terms of logistical matters, they will not partake in the discussions since they said it was purely an internal affair of the rebels. Thamilselvan yesterday said that after their counter proposals were fine-tuned in Paris, they would be presented to the elusive leader Velupillai Prabhakaran for his approval before being forwarded to the government through the facilitators.
''I think we will be able to submit our counter proposals before the end of September,'' he said.
He also said the LTTE was now engaged in serious discussion with the other Tamil parties with regard to its counter proposals for the creation of an interim council for the war-ravaged provinces of the island nation. He, however, ruled out any discussion with the anti-LTTE Tamil parties such as the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and the EPRLF (Varathan faction) claiming that they were not considered as ''democratically elected'' representatives of the Tamil people. Thamilselvan added that interests and safety of all communities living in the region would be given due consideration in the counter proposals.
The government submitted its fresh offer on July 17 for the establishment of an interim council giving wider powers and participation to the LTTE. The rebels who rejected twice the government's previous proposals, are now drawing their reaction in the form of counter proposals.
Bureau Report