“APRC’s approach was carefully considered by the participants. There was general consensus that APRC effort must be strengthened to include wider participation of political groups without limiting it to parliamentary political parties. One group insisted on having a wider proposal than limiting to the present Provincial devolution of powers. Prof Vitharane explained the need to establish southern political consensus for a resolution, whilst there was general expectation from the Tamil representatives that Southern consensus must be focussed on the minority view points.”_________________________________
(April 16, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Chairman of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) Prof Vitharane met several expatriate Tamil Organisations during his visit to the UK. An APRC team headed by Prof Vitharana undertook a week long visit to the UK on a fact finding mission to study the process involved in the resolution to the Northern Ireland conflict.
The visiting team met some Tamil groups in London and Prof Vitharane on his own engaged in some of the discussion meetings. In view of time constraints collective meetings of various organisations were held in various parts of London.
The meetings were said to be very interactive and serious issues were discussed. Prof Vitharane detailed on the progress made by the APRC and touched on adapting a step by step process to politically resolve the conflict. The meetings involved various groups including Tamil United Liberation Front, Tamil Democratic Congress, Sri Lanka Democratic Forum, Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam, Tamil Peace Forum, ex and present members and activists of the LTTE, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Organisation and representatives of community organisations and leading Tamil figures.
APRC’s approach was carefully considered by the participants. There was general consensus that APRC effort must be strengthened to include wider participation of political groups without limiting it to parliamentary political parties. One group insisted on having a wider proposal than limiting to the present Provincial devolution of powers. Prof Vitharane explained the need to establish southern political consensus for a resolution, whilst there was general expectation from the Tamil representatives that Southern consensus must be focussed on the minority view points.
When issues like Sinhala fear for separate state evolving with wider Tamil Nadu involvement was taken up, there was outright condemnation from members that such thinking was opportunistically espoused by the extreme politicians to determine the fate of Sri Lanka.
There was general consensus that political resolution is the only way to resolve the conflict and that LTTE provocations and Sinhala extremism cannot be the basis for the resolution to the conflict.
The representatives asserted the need to have strong bipartisan agreement between the government and the main opposition party to resolve the conflict. Prof Vitharane explained his effort to engage the opposition United National Party in the process. He said 90% of the work has been completed on the final proposal and explained his meeting in Northern Ireland has given some issues to be considered in the APRC process.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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