ENB News:'APRC' and After.

Sri Lanka defence chief calls for ban on Tamil Tigers: report 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
Sri Lanka's defence secretary has called for a ban on the Tamil Tigers and said the ongoing military campaign was aimed at destroying the rebels' top leaders, a
report said.
Rajapakse, who is President Mahinda Rajapakse's younger brother, said the military had started a campaign to capture rebel-held areas in the island's north, after
securing the east last year.
"We have started our thrust from all sides, from Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya. It is done in a systematic manner. We don't plan to stop," Rajapakse was
quoted as saying by the Sinhala-language Lankadeepa newspaper.
He said the military was aiming at eliminating Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran and two to three other top leaders.
"If we destroy their leadership, the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) will collapse," the defence secretary said, adding that it was time the government
reinstated a ban on the Tigers.
The rebels were banned for a period of five years till mid-2003, when the then government moved to re-start peace talks under a 2002-Norwegian brokered truce.
The government pulled out of the ceasefire this month, leading to the departure of Nordic monitoring teams.
"They (the LTTE) should be banned. Our aim is to destroy the LTTE," he said.
Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka also told state television that the issue of whether the Tiger chief was alive or dead was "irrelevant as he is as good as dead".
Fonseka said the rebels were not "finished" yet but "weakened".
Fighting meanwhile continued to rage across the north, as Sri Lankan warplanes Saturday bombed what was said to be a nerve centre of the rebels' Sea Tiger unit.
"Fighter pilots have confirmed that the target was accurately hit," a defence ministry statement.
It also said at least 30 Tigers and one soldier were killed in a fresh wave of fighting on Friday, although the pro-rebel website Tamilnet.com said three government
soldiers and two guerrillas died.
Since the start of this month, the Sri Lankan government has said it has killed 666 rebels for the loss of 27 of its soldiers. At least 63 civilians had also been killed,
according to defence ministry figures.
Both sides give wildly varying casualty figures which cannot be independently verified as the government bars journalists from visiting frontline areas and rebel-held
territory.
Tens of thousands of people have died since the rebels launched a separatist campaign to carve out an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the majority
Sinhalese nation in 1972.

''President responsible for Kebithigollawa massacre” – Dayasiri Jayasekara [26-01-2008 3.30pm]

The President is responsible for the massacre of the 16 persons, whose bodies were found buried at Kiriketuwewa on the Kebithigollewa-
Horowpothana main road, says UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.
Speaking at a media briefing in the official residence of the opposition leader yesterday (Jan. 25th), Jayasekera said that armed paramilitary groups affiliated with the
Pillayan Group, EPDP and the Army are on the roam.
These 16 victims were murdered under such a backdrop, he noted.
The President states that a certain anti-government group was behind certain bomb attacks and murders in the southern region of the country, the UNP MP said,
calling on the President to reveal their identity.
Even though President Rajapaksa vowed to end the ‘jungle law’ in the country before the Presidential elections, today, it has spread throughout the entire country,
MP Jayasekara said.
The UNP MP said that the government is reluctant to hold elections, fearing defeat.
The JVP and the JHU counsels the government to create a military regime similar to that of Myanmar. And this is what President Rajapaksa is doing right now, he
added.

More involvement of India would drive the final nails into the coffin of Tamil Tigers says Times Sat, 2008-01-26 15:04

By Walter Jayawardhana
If New Delhi decides to strengthen the hand of President Rajapakse of Sri Lanka and gets more involved in the Sri Lanka problem it would drive the final nail to the
coffin of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
In its main editorial, the Hindustan Times said, “In recent times, the head of its political wing and its military intelligence chiefs have been taken out by the Lankan army
and rumors are rife that Prabhakaran himself may be grievously wounded.”
Calling the present conflict with the Sri Lanka armed forces an end game for the terrorist group the influential Indian newspaper said President Rajapakse’s hardline
policy has the got the Tamil Tigers to be on the run.
Though it tried the LTTE could never get on the good side of India , once again, the Hindustani Times categorically stated. The following is the full editorial:
“Unlike past Sri Lankan leaders who have always blown hot and blown cold on India, President Mahinda Rajapakse has been unambiguous in his stand. He recently
said that if the Lankan army captures LTTE supremo V. Prabhakaran, he would hand over the man who plotted the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi to India. Contrast
this with the policy followed by the late Premadasa who betrayed Rajiv by arming the LTTE even as the IPKF fought the Tigers in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.
This triggered off a chain of events that drew the Indian forces deeper into the Lankan quagmire and eventually cost Rajiv his life.
”Mr Rajapakse’s confidence stems from the fact that his hardline policy has got the LTTE on the run. In recent times, the head of its political wing and its military
intelligence chiefs have been taken out by the Lankan army and rumours are rife that Prabhakaran himself may be grievously wounded. While pursuing a tough policy
on the LTTE, Mr Rajapakse has sought to carry other political parties with him. Since Rajiv’s death, India has chosen to maintain a low-profile on the conflict. It has
made clear that it wants a credible devolution package which involves all parties. But with the Norwegians no longer in the peace process, India may have no option
but to become more involved.
”If New Delhi decides on this course, it might help Mr Rajapakse’s hand and could drive the final nail into the LTTE’s coffin. Mr Rajapakse has sought blueprints
from the other parties on a way out of the conflict and he is expected to soon come to a decision on the road to be taken. Already in its interim report, the All Parties
Representative Conference has sought that provincial council elections be held in the east and an interim provincial council be established for the north. The message
is loud and clear: Lanka is moving ahead to a future which does not factor in the LTTE. The LTTE now knows that though it tried, it can never get onto the good side
of India. The European Union and the United States have proscribed it, making it difficult for funds to flow in from Tamils in these places. Dubbed “the most
dangerous terrorist outfit” in the world, it can no longer expect sympathy from any quarter. For both the LTTE and Mr Rajapakse, this is the endgame.”
- Asian Tribune -

LTTE military spokesman denies the bombing of LTTE leader’s base
Thu, 2008-01-24 03:58 Colombo, 24 January, (Asiantribune.com):

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam refuted the claim by the Sri Lanka Air Force that it had hit a base of the leader of the
LTTE Velupillai Pirapaharan on Wednesday morning around 11.15 am.
However unconfirmed reports revealed that after the reported bomb attack, shops in Kilinochchi districts were closed down and even satellite phones used by the
middle level LTTE leaders were retrieved by the intelligence officers of the separatist Tamil outfit.
But by a belated response, Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan on Wednesday evening refuted the claims by the Sri Lanka Air Force that it had
hit a location of the leader of the LTTE Velupillai Pirapaharan.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Sri Lanka Air Force reported that the rebel nerve centre called "X-Ray Base" in Kilinochchi was bombed.
The Air force added "Air Force fighter jets in a low flying mission have targeted the base located East of Iranamadu Tank in the Kalmadukulama area, with the pin
point accuracy.”
Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Andi Wijesoriya, said air sorties were carried out on information obtained through real-time air surveillance and ground
reconnaissance. Also, he said that the targeted location has been a regular visiting place of terror chief V. Prabhakaran. Fighter pilots have confirmed that the target
was accurately hit, he added,
However Ilanthirayan, LTTE military spokesman in an interview with the pro-LTTE news websites, while denying the claim by the Sri Lanka Air Force said that
Colombo was spreading false propaganda. He added that the SLAF attack targeted civilian settlements at Vaddakkachchi twice between 11:10 a.m. and 11:35 a.m.
and in the evening between 5:15 and 6:00 p.m.
Pro-LTTE news websites further added that Ilanthirayan has charged that Colombo was engaged in such false propaganda, also even during the Tsunami catastrophe
and on many occasions earlier, he said.
These are all claims and counter claims of the protagonists of the conflict and journalists are not permitted to visit the places of incident by the Tamil Tigers for any
independent verification.
- Asian Tribune -

Sri Lanka jets target Tiger leader
Wed Jan 23, 5:41 AM ET
Sri Lankan war planes bombed a suspected base of the top Tamil Tiger leader in the island's north Wednesday as ground attacks killed at least two rebels, the
defence ministry said Wednesday.
Aircraft hit a base of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Iranamadu where the separatists have a clandestine airfield, the ministry said. It gave no details
of casualties or damage.
Military sources said six aircraft were deployed for the bombing raid based on intelligence reports that Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was receiving medical
treatment at a jungle hideout in the region.
There was no immediate reaction from the guerrillas to the military statement.
Sri Lanka's military has already claimed either killing or wounding Tiger chieftain Prabhakaran, 53, in previous air attacks inside rebel-held territory.
The guerrillas have made no comment, but released pictures of the Tiger leader at meetings with his fighters.
The latest air attack came as the defence ministry said two suspected Tiger rebels were shot dead in skirmishes just outside the guerrillas' de facto mini-state on
Tuesday.
Since the start of this month, Sri Lanka's defence ministry has said government forces have killed 594 rebels while just 26 soldiers have died.
The military's claims cannot be independently verified as journalists and human rights workers are not allowed access to the embattled region.
The bombing raid came a day after President Mahinda Rajapakse defended his decision to formally withdraw from a tattered 2002 truce with the LTTE at the same
time as declaring he had no plans to advance into territory held by the guerrillas.
Rajapakse also stated that he did not believe in a military solution to the decades-old Tamil separatist campaign. But he said he would not negotiate with the LTTE
until they stopped their armed struggle.
The remarks were in sharp contrast to earlier statements by the military and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse -- his own brother -- vowing to seize the
rebels' mini-state and eliminate the guerrilla leadership.
The government, which believes it has gained the upper hand in the conflict, pulled out of the Norwegian-brokered truce with the rebels this month.

Damage to environment by AF bombing: LTTE
The LTTE claims that in three separate sorties spread over 20 hours, the Air Force had carried out extensive bombing over the Ambalahamam forest area in
Kilinochchi “destroying vast extents of forests.” “At 11.30 a.m. and at 5.20 p.m. on Wednesday and again at 6.45 a.m, on Thursday Sri Lankan Air Force dropped more than 16 bombs over the Ambalahamam
forest area damaging around 10 hectares of forest land,” the LTTE peace secretariat said.
The ‘Forest Protection Division’ of the LTTE has undertaken extensive forest replanting in recent times, the LTTE claimed saying young plants as well as many old
forest plants were destroyed in the military bombing.
“Speculation is rife among Kilinochchi residents about the rationale behind the bombing of forest areas which only results in the destruction of the environment,” the
LTTE added.

Afghan, Lebanon style 1000kg Kilinochci Bomb-ENB

The Islands: Reports
*Prabhakaran’s fate not known after decapitation air strike
*Deadly bunker busters used to inflict maximum damage
*Tigers maintain radio silence, order closure of shops
*Tip-off rattles LTTEintelligence unit
by Harischandra Gunaratna and Norman Palihawadana

The LTTEin total disarray ordered the closure of all shops in Kilinochchi and maintained radio silence following yesterday’s decapitating air strike on a hideout known
as ‘X-ray base’, at Iranamadu, frequented by LTTE leader Prabhakaran around 11.15 yesterday morning.
Although the fate of the Tiger chief was not immediately known, the military was confident that he could have been in the heavily fortified bunker at the time of the
raid. "We are awaiting confirmation from our intelligence operatives on the ground," a high ranking military officer told The Island adding that he was almost certain
Prabhakaran had been there at that time. "The bunker has been reduced to dust," he claimed, "several LTTEleaders may have bee killed."
He admitted that deadly bunker busters weighing about 1,000 kg each had been used as the SLAF ‘didn’t want to leave anything to chance’.
Migs and Kfirs, on a low flying mission had targeted the base, located East of the Iranamadu Tank in the Kalmadukulama area the SLAF sources said.
Military Intelligence had been watching the LTTE leader’s movements in the Wanni during the last few days. They had reported their findings about his presence in
this hideout to the SLAF.
According to Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya the sorties were carried out on information obtained through real-time air surveillance and
ground reconnaissance. He also said that the targeted location had been under reconnaissance for some time. Combat pilots had confirmed that the target was
accurately hit, he said.
The Defence Ministry said in a communique that the air raid had been timed for a "special" activity that was going on at the LTTE base.
However, sources refrained from commenting further on the issue. They said the targeted ‘terror hub’ was located in a thick jungle patch, North of the LTTE's
runway in Iranamadu. The area has been long demarcated as a ‘high security zone’ out of bounds for civilians.
The SLAF has been continuously supporting the ground troops in their ongoing operations in the North and the Vanni.
On November 26, it was reported that Prabhakaran had received minor injuries in an attack by the SLAF but the LTTE website denied the story.
However, the LTTE leadership was furious that a number of its top leaders, as well as second level local leaders, were also targeted in the combined operations by
the armed forces and the police commandos in the recent months. In retaliation they have started attacking civilians in the deep south and other parts of the island.

Heavy LTTE casualties in air strike by Defencenet
(January 24, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)

It was only yesterday (24th) when Sri Lanka Air Force used 6 of its fighter jets to raid a major LTTE military facility
deep inside the jungles east of Iranamadu. More details are now surfacing regarding the aftermath of one of the most devastating air strikes in the Eelam War 4.
According to military intelligence reports, hospitals in Kilinochchi are being filled with wounded LTTE cadres. Intel reports suggest that a significant number of cadres
from Prabhakaran's elite guard unit, the Imran-Pandiyan regiment, are among the wounded.
However there is still no confirmation on any injuries caused to LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran. The pilots who took part in the raid could not confirm if anti aircraft fire
was directed at their planes or not. LTTE usually places its truck mounted 14.5mm AA batteries in close proximity to LTTE leader's hideouts in fear of air strikes. If
AA fire was absent when the attack occurred it may be an indication of LTTE leader having just left the scene prior to bombing. This however is a wild guess as of
this moment.
SLAF used 24 bunker buster bombs to attack the X-Ray base, razing its buildings to dust in a matter of minutes.
Meanwhile, LTTE maintained radio silence after a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) raid targeted one of its highly secured military complexes deep inside the jungles east
of Iranamadu today morning. LTTE also ordered all shops in Kilinochchi town to be closed down immediately following the aerial raid. SLAF used 6 fighter jets
simultaneously in one of the largest air strikes in the 4th Eelam War. However there is still no confirmation on any injuries caused to the LTTE leader Prabhakaran,
who was supposedly present at the base during the bombing.
In the northern front, soldiers from 10th Gajaba regiment, 8th Gemunu watch and Commando regiment carried out several limited operations ahead of newly
captured areas in Uliyankulam. LTTE casualty details in these operations are not available as of now.
At least 20 LTTE cadres have been killed in sporadic clashes that erupted in Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya fronts in the last three days.

APRCNOTEBOOK OF A NOBODY
Will the farcical comedy continue?by Shanie
As we feared last week, Prof. Tissa Vitarana’s APRC has laboured for eighteen months and delivered a twenty-year-old still born baby. It was not even a normal
delivery. It had to be by a caesarean section forced upon the APRC by the President. The APRC has been meeting on sixty-three occasions over the past eighteen
months. Yet within days of the Presidential diktat, they have been able to submit an "interim" report that coincidentally conforms to the proposal that President
Rajapaksa wanted and which one of his Ministers Douglas Devananda has been canvassing with the Mahanayakes, Archbishops and other religious leaders.
The APRC report finds it possible for free and fair elections to be held in the East immediately. But in the North, an interim Provincial Council is to be appointed.
They propose tongue in cheek that the Northern Council should consist of experienced politicians who are acceptable to the people. Vitarana cannot be unaware that
there have been various acts of terrorism (including abductions and killings) in the Government held areas which the local population blame on paramilitary groups
enjoying the blessings of the Government, the EPDP included. Does he really believe that the interim council is going to consist of people acceptable to the people?
At a time when moderate minority opinion should be won over, this proposal is a sure way to alienate Tamil opinion still further. People in the North cannot be won
over by trying to impose on them people who outdo the LTTE in acts of terrorism.
The Government is doing the same thing in the East. President Rajapaksa is reported to have said in the South that there has been a sea-change in the East after
"liberation" and that one has to see it to believe it. The President may have seen something and believed. But the people of the East have seen nothing and believe
nothing. Like the people of the North, the people in the East experience daily acts of terrorism at the hands of a paramilitary group and which is a law unto itself. And
it is unbelievable that the Government has signed an agreement with this group to contest the forthcoming local polls together. How does the Government expect the
people to believe that they are waging a war on terrorism when they forge official alliances with terrorists?
Capitulating to Jingoism
The country has been polarised as never before. Over fifty years ago, the two major political parties capitulated to the forces of extreme Sinhala nationalism. An
emotional appeal was made to patriotic Sinhala people that any concession to the Tamil language would destroy the Sinhala people. This resulted in the Sinhala Only
Bill. It took many anti-Tamil pogroms to reverse that and make Tamil also an official language. In the hysteria of the mid-fifties, only the left parties stood firm and
refused to compromise on a policy of equal recognition for both Sinhala and Tamil languages which they believed was the only right thing for the country. What Dr N.
M. Perera said when speaking in Parliament in 1955 is still very relevant to us today: "I have no hesitation in saying that a correct solution to this problem will make it
easy for this country to continue as one united nation. But if we take the wrong step, I think, we will be courting disaster – a situation which none of us would like to
see materialise. I say that with all the solemnity I can command. I am gravely conscious of the importance of the situation. It would have been easy for me and the
members of my party to have sponsored the very popular idea, Sinhala Only, and we would have been acclaimed as heroes as a good many others have been.
"But our party has taken up a consistent attitude. Ever since our party was launched we have never faltered or wavered from that position because we felt that that
was the correct line to take. That position we will still adhere to. However unpopular that line of action might be, I am convinced myself of the correctness of our
attitude. It might mean going into the political wilderness for some time, but still we the members of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party are prepared to face that. Let there
be no mistake about it."
The principled stand of the LSSP did not drive them to the political wilderness. On the contrary, at the 1956 General Election, the LSSP had perhaps its best
success. It won a little over 10% of the popular vote as against 39% and 27% for the SLFP led coalition and the UNP respectively; and they emerged as the second
largest party in Parliament. Dr. N. M. Perera himself won his seat defeating Ranasinghe Premadasa (later to be President of Sri Lanka) by the highest majority he
ever obtained. It is a pity that Prof. Tissa Vitarana did not think it fit to follow the principled stand of his uncle, leader and mentor.
Arriving at a political solution
Let us make no mistake. What has been proposed as an "interim" measure is no solution at all, neither interim nor permanent. Somebody is going to be appointed a
Governor, another as Chief Minister, various persons as Ministers and other posts given to the "boys" and, maybe, the "girls" as well. No meaningful devolution of
powers will and can take place and the various officers will have to operate from a High Security Zone. But from this High Security Zone, not only political dissidents
but also all who do not go along with this farce are going to be harassed. We do not think anyone seriously believes that this charade is going to be a political solution.
It is not known how much the APRC has cost the country over the past eighteen months. But should this continue? The President may as well accede to the JVP’s
demand that it be dissolved. Prof. Tissa Vitarana had earlier presented a set of admirable proposals on which he had claimed there was broad consensus. Let that
remain as a historical record, along with that of the Experts Panel which was also on similar lines. The country is not going to take seriously any further meetings of the
APRC. They will have little confidence that the Government itself takes the APRC seriously; they know that ultimately, the APRC is going to rubber-stamp the
President’s diktats. Let people like Prof. Vitarana exit from this farce honourably. They do not deserve to become objects of ridicule. They will still have a
contribution to make to the future of our country if they act now in a principled and honourable way.
Constitutional Council
Another major cause for concern is the continuing delay in the appointment of the Constitutional Council. Thanks to the initiative of the Organisation of Professional
Associations, the excuse that the minor parties did not have a nominee to serve on the Council does not now exist. The full complement of ten nominees, all of whom
have professionally distinguished themselves in service to the nation, has now been named. It is now the constitutional duty of the President to set up the Council
without delay.
The country needs good governance now as never before. That was the objective of the JVP sponsored 17th Amendment with which all parties concurred. The
implementation of it was to ensure an independent public service, an independent judiciary, an independent Police Service, an independent Commission to conduct
free and fair Elections, etc. We need these independent bodies to restore professionalism to some of the arms of the government that desperately need them. We see
the rule of law being breached with impunity by many with political connections and the law enforcers seem helpless in preventing them.
For good governance, not only must the Constitutional Councils be set without delay, but all the other commissions need to be reconstituted to safeguard their
independence. Those currently serving on these Commssions, appointed by the President extra-constitutionally, need to resign or be removed to enable the
Const0itutional Council to perform its function of appointments to the independent Commissions. But, that is the second stage. First, the President needs to do his
constitutional duty. As the first citizen, he cannot and must not deliberately violate the Constitution.

Batti polls on March 10
The local government election in the eastern province will be held on March 10. Six political parties and 22 independent groups have joined the fray for the mini poll.

India to back Lanka devolution package
By RAMESH RAMACHANDRAN
New Delhi, Jan. 24: India has for now decided to throw its weight behind the All-Party Representative Conference’s (APRC’s) interim recommendations for
devolution of powers in Sri Lanka.
In a calibrated response, India on Thursday said that the APRC recommendations are a welcome first step, provided they pave the way for a final settlement of the
ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
"To the extent that the APRC proposals contribute to such a settlement, they are a welcome first step," ministry of external affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna said in a
statement here. New Delhi iterated that a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka is to be done by the Sri Lankan people themselves in a manner acceptable to all
communities within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.
"The Government of India will continue to work with Sri Lanka and its people to bring about such a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka," the statement said, noting
that Colombo has been good enough to share with New Delhi the interim steps recommended by the APRC for implementation of devolution provisions and official
language provisions of the Sri Lankan Constitution.
The four-page report of the APRC is titled "Action to be taken by the President to fully implement relevant provisions of the present Constitution as a prelude to the
APRC proposals." It was handed over to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on Wednesday.
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president, V. Anandasangaree has welcomed the report. Speaking on his behalf and that of D. Sithadthan of Peoples
Liberation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and T. Sritharan of Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (Pathmanabha), Mr Anandasangaree said that they "whole-
heartedly support" the implementation of the 13th Amendment in full, as a first step before a final solution is recommended by the APRC.
Mr Anandasangaree sought the "blessings" and "cooperation" of the 60 million Tamils living across the Palk Straits, in Tamil Nadu, for implementing the APRC’s
recommendations and urged them not to be "misled by a handful of pro-LTTE leaders on both sides."
"We assure the Tamils living across, that there is no attempt by anybody to annihilate the Tamils and contrary to that, more than half of the Tamil population is living in
the South happily among the Sinhalese and Muslims reposing confidence in them, far away from their traditional places of habitation," he said.
The TULF leader, who recently visited New Delhi with Mr Sithadthan and Mr Sritharan for talks with Indian officials, clarified that they have not changed their views
on the merger of the North and the East or a solution based on the federal concept.
"We assure everybody that while spurning violence, we will by non-violent means and in a friendly way continue to persuade the citizens of our country to agree that
no permanent solution can be found under a unitary system. We will continue to dispel the fears of those who think that the country will be divided. We will take all
steps to erase-off from the minds of our people the idea of separation and to strongly support the concept of a united Sri Lanka," Mr Anandasangaree added. The
APRC has recommended the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution, holding of provincial council elections in the East and establishment of
an interim provincial council in the North. The 13th Amendment stipulates that province will be the unit of devolution.
Sri Lankan President has said that he would prefer India to play a role in the resolution of the ethnic conflict in his country.

APRC proposals not for terrorists but for patriotic Sri Lankans of all communities, President
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the sole objective of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) is to project a political solution acceptable to all
communities with respecpect to the crises in the country. The President expressed the firm belief that the process would yield a satisfactory solution to the Tamil community who are the worst effected by LTTE atrocities.
President Rajapaksa was addressing a media conference held in Colombo with the participation of the heads of Media Institutions and several Government officials.
"It is up to the APRC to deliver. I will act on the report as soon as I get it. I will persuade all parties to implement it. But it has to be practical and acceptable to all,"
President Rajapaksa told editors and senior media personnel at Temple Trees.
The President reiterated that the proposals are not for terrorists: "These proposals are for the Tamils, Muslims and indeed Sinhalese - they too cannot be left out of
the solution. We will address their grievances. We have to work together."
"We have to go for a political solution. But there will be no room for terrorism. These are two different things. I don't believe in a military solution. Terrorism is
terrorism. There are no good terrorists or bad terrorists. They want us to negotiate with the LTTE, but if it is al-Queda, it's a different story."
He said the Security Forces would continue to retaliate if they are hit and pledged that all measures to protect all peoples are being taken.
"The LTTE and certain other elements are carrying out attacks on civilians in order to divert the attention of the security forces who are slowly but surely moving in on
the final LTTE stronghold in the Wanni. Towards this end, there could be incidents in Colombo and elsewhere but the Security Forces are geared to face such
threats.
"Other forces beside the LTTE could at work to create instability, as evidenced by two minor blasts in Colombo," the President warned.
Practical problems would be encountered while striving for a peaceful solution, but once concrete proposals are on the table and if they are viable, the parties
currently out of the APRC would also inevitably have to join in.
He stressed that there was no pressure on him or the Government to deliver a solution. In his opinion, the 13th Amendment offered a basis for a solution, but the
Government would respect the majority decision of the APRC, whatever it is. The 13th Amendment, though in the law, has not been implemented and full powers
have not been given to the Provincial Councils, he observed.
The problem up to now has been that no proposals were allowed to be implemented. They burned the regional council proposals and ditched all other potential
solutions. The LTTE was against every proposal.
"I cannot impose my own proposals. Nor can the SLFP. It will be a collective effort, a democratic exercise."
He said the Government was keen to ensure that Northern and Eastern people governed themselves. "The local elections will be held in the East, followed by
Provincial Council elections. As for the North, it will have to be cleared [of the LTTE] first. Then democracy can be restored."
Regarding the international community, the President said any country wishing peace in Sri Lanka "can join us". As for the LTTE's pledge that they are prepared to
uphold the CFA 100 per cent, the President said such statements cannot be trusted as they had violated the CFA over 7,000 times. Many Tamil political leaders
were killed during the CFA period.
He dismissed claims that the LTTE was the sole representative of the Tamil people. There are many other Tamil political parties, civil society organisations and social
organisations which act on behalf of the Tamil people, he pointed out.
Responding to a question on various armed groups, he said only the Forces and the Police are entitled to carry arms and all other groups are illegal.
He reiterated the Government's commitment to human rights, noting that Sri Lanka was the only country in the world which appointed eminent independent observers
from foreign countries to oversee the rights inquiries. The Government is bringing in a Witness Protection Act and there has also been a drastic reduction in
disappearances and abductions, the President further said.
He described the FBI's recent assessment of the LTTE as the world's deadliest terror group as an encouraging sign that the world is helping Lanka to fight terrorism.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 January 2008 )
Sri Lanka unveils peace plan; analysts lukewarm
Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:53pm IST (Reuters)

A home grown peace plan aimed at giving more autonomy to Sri Lanka's war-torn north and east was officially unveiled on
Thursday, but its proposals have already been rejected by Tamil Tiger rebels and left analysts lukewarm.
The All Party Representative Committee's (APRC) so-called "devolution proposals", which have been in the making for nearly two years, call for more regional
autonomy to territories where rebels have been fighting an independence war for 25 years.
While analysts said they were disappointed with the proposals, they were encouraged the government still appeared to be seeking a political solution to the 25-year
civil war which pits minority Hindu Tamils against the majority Sinhalese Buddhists.
"It will be no different from the system that already exists," said Jehan Perera, an analyst with the non-partisan advocacy group, the National Peace Council.
"But, if the government sincerely implements (the proposals), then it will be a positive sign that the government is keen on solving problems through political means
rather than military means."
The government in 1987 decided to move towards a power sharing agreement in areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but never actually
conceded any power.
The APRC's proposals were the latest reincarnation of that plan, but despite its' lofty name, the committee credibility problems by excluding the LTTE from the
outset, and suffered further when most opposition party members walked out.
While full details of the proposals are still to be revealed, it recommends the full implementation of the 1987 plan -- which was written into the constitution.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he would fully implement the recommendations, but his stance of dealing with terrorism would not change.
Analysts expect the war, which has killed around 70,000 people since 1983, will grind on for years.

Sri Lanka's latest peace proposals push for the Indo-Lanka pact, wants polls in East
Thu, 2008-01-24 20:44 By Joseph Thavaraja
Colombo, 24 January, (Asiantribune.com):

Sri Lanka's latest peace proposals handed over to President Rajapakse on Wednesday January 24 pushes the 13nth
amendment to the constitution forefront while calling for polls in the East. It also calls for devolving police powers and 'official languages provisions' to the constitution.
The proposals are formulated by the All Party Representative Committee – the collective of southern political party representatives to formulate the 'southern
consensus' to the protracted ethnic conflict. But the main opposition UNP has boycotted the APRC since its beginning and more recently, the JVP too withdrew from
the committee.
President Mahinda Rajapakse engrossed in reading over the proposal. The APRC proposal was handed over to him yesterday Prof. Tissa Vitarana Chairman of the
APRC.At times described as a 'constitutional sleight of hand' by observers, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution is the Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardene Accord of 1987
presented in another form as an amendment to the constitution. It created the Provincial Councils and enforced a temporary unification of the Northern and Eastern
Provinces. But in 2006 the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled that the merger of Northern and Eastern provinces as "unconstitutional, illegal and invalid" shattering
hopes of the Tamil minority.
One political observer said that the proposals are a massive waste of public funds saying "they go on reverse gear to the 13th amendment.' The three to four pages
long APRC proposals were finalized after 63 sittings over a period of 1½ years. "After 63 sittings over a period of 1½ years the consensus document is being
finalized" the APRC said in the document. Another observer said that 'there's nothing new.'
But Lionel Guruge, a senior member of the Centre for Policy Alternatives and a well known Federal activist labeled by ultra-Sinhalese parties as a non-patriot
speaking in an independent capacity welcomed the move to hold elections in the East. "This will fill an urgent vacuum in the east – that is the absence of a politico-
administrative mechanism in east to serve the regional populace" he said. He added "Even the nationalist party JHU has now come to a consensus that devolution is
necessary to serve the minorities. In that sense, APRC proposals stand as a considerable victory for Mahinda Rajapakse. But Rajapakse should not attempt to rule
the East in the way Varadaraja Perumal attempted under Indo Lanka pact's Eastern Province in 1987-88 period which ended in a debacle" Guruge said.
The full text of APRC is given below:
APRC Proposals to President
The following are the proposals handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) yesterday, on fully implementing
relevant provisions in the present Constitution, in order to achieve maximum and effective devolution of powers to the provinces in the short term

Action to be taken by the President to fully implement relevantprovisions of the present constitution as a prelude to the APRC proposals
1. Introduction
1.1 The APRC was mandated by the President to prepare a set of proposals that would be the basis for a solution to the national question. After 63 sittings over a
period of 1½ years the consensus document is being finalized and it should be possible to hand it over to the President in the very near future. The outcome would be
a basis for appropriate constitutional arrangements. Implementation of this would of course require amendment of the present Constitution, and in respect of some
Articles, approval by the People at a referendum. This would of course take time, once a favorable climate is established.
1.2 Under the circumstances, the APRC taking into consideration its own proposals, has identified a course of action to achieve maximum and effective devolution of
powers to the provinces in the short term. The emphasis would be on meeting the aspirations of the Tamil speaking peoples, especially in the North and East. This
would be done within the framework of the present Constitution, that is, the 1978 Constitution. The course of action proposed by the APRC would be implementable
with immediate effect, and envisages an interim arrangement pending the restoration of democratically elected Provincial Councils in the North and East.
1.3 The 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution was enacted following the Indo Sri Lanka Agreement of July 1987. It resulted in the setting up of Provincial
Councils throughout Sri Lanka and it devolved power to the Provinces under the unitary Constitution. The powers devolved fall under a Provincial List and a
Concurrent List. All other powers were reserved for the Centre through a Reserved List. Further, any subject or function not included in any of the three Lists will
also be deemed to be a subject or function in the Reserved List.
1.4 Implementation of subjects and functions devolved on the Provinces through the Concurrent List has not taken place at all due to the fact most of these subjects
and functions were retained by the Centre as if they also belonged to the Reserved List.
2. Steps necessary to permit Maximum Devolution of Powers to Provinces under the 13th Amendment
2.1 The Government should endeavor to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in respect of legislative, executive and administrative powers,
overcoming existing shortcomings.
2.2 Adequate funds should be provided by the Government to facilitate effective functioning of the Provincial Councils.
2.2.1 The Centre should hereinafter route all finances in respect of special projects undertaken by the Centre in the Provinces, if they are on subjects under the
purview of the Provinces, through the respective Provincial Administrations.
3. Special Arrangements necessary to permit Maximum Devolution of Powers to the Northern and Eastern Provinces under the 13th Amendment
3.1 The APRC is of the view that conditions in the Eastern Province are conducive to holding elections to the Provincial Council and that elections should be held
immediately.
3.2 Conditions in the Northern Province are far from being peaceful. A free and fair election in the North will not be possible in the near future. Hence an alternative
arrangement is required in the Northern Province to enable the people of that Province to enjoy the fruits of devolution.
3.3 As it is not possible to hold elections in the North, the President could make appropriate order to establish an Interim Council for the Northern Province in terms
of the Constitution.
3.4 The Interim Council of a Province will aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his executive powers, and will function until Provincial Council elections are
held in that Province.
3.4.1 The Interim Council should reflect the ethnic character of that Province.
3.4.2 It is proposed that the Interim Council for a Province should consist of individuals who have political experience and an abiding interest in the development of
the Province and in its people and be acceptable to the people of the Province. A person to qualify for appointment as a member of an Interim Council should have a
thorough knowledge of the particular Province.
4. Implementation of the Official Languages Provision of the Constitution
4.1 The Government should take immediate steps to ensure that Parliament enacts laws to provide for the full implementation of Chapter IV of the Constitution on
Language.
4.2 There are many contexts in which remedial measures will assume an administrative, rather than a legislative, character.
The following are instances of measures which should be strenuously accelerated and implemented by the Government.
(a) recruitment of Tamil speaking police officers in sufficient numbers to enable Tamil speaking members of the public, not only in the North and East, but in the
country as a whole, to transact business in their own language in police stations;
(b) the taking of all steps, including recruitment of staff and procurement of equipment to enable Tamil speaking members of the public to deal with Ministries,
Government Departments, statutory corporations and all other public bodies intheir own language;
(c) the regular holding of, and streamlining of procedures for, mobile "clinics" where officials fluent in the Tamil language will engage problem solving on the spot;
(d) the provision of interpreters, translators and other relevant facilities in all courts of law, so that the needs of members of provincial minority communities are
catered fully with regard to all aspects of the administration of justice;
(e) The Sinhala minorities in the North and East suffer from disadvantages similar to those affecting Tamil speaking peoples as mentioned above. Suitable steps should
be taken to address them along the same lines.
The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) comprised:
1. Sri Lanka Freedom Party
2. United National Party (D)
3. Jathika Hela Urumaya
4. Ceylon Workers Congress
5. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
6. All Ceylon Muslim Congress
7. Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
8. National Unity Alliance
9. Up-country People's Front
10. Communist Party of Sri Lanka
11. Eelam People's Democratic Party
12. National Congress
13. Western People's Front
14. Lanka Sama Samaja Party
- Asian Tribune -

Diplomatic community hails APRC consensus
Rasika SOMARATHNA
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama asserted yesterday that foreign diplomats had endorsed APRC proposals as a positive beginning for seeking sustainable
peace.
Addressing the media, Bogollagama said he had taken steps to brief the diplomatic community including the Co-Chairs and the Indian HC, immediately after
President Mahinda Rajapaksa received the set of proposals officially, from APRC Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitarana.
“In assessing these proposals, it is important that the international community recognise that these are not proposals aimed at meeting the demands of the LTTE, but at
meeting the aspirations of the long suffering people of the North and East.
Its significant that these are implementable steps in a continuing process for greater devolution of power, with the objective of achieving a final and durable political
settlement acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Hailing the effort as a historic step in Sri Lanka’s 60 years of independence, where consensus was reached to devolve power to the North and East through a
democratic consultation, the Minister said all parties who participated in the process had attributed the success to the pragmatic leadership of President Rajapaksa
and to the untiring efforts of Prof.Vitarana.
Elaborating on the proposals, he said these would include full implementation of relevant provisions of the present Constitution. It has also sought to identify a course
of action to achieve maximum and effective devolution of power to the provinces to meet the aspirations of the minorities including the Tamil speaking people and
other communities, especially ones living in the North and East, he noted.
Elaborating on the basic steps envisaged to overcome the existing shortcomings with regard to devolution of power, the Minister said that implementing the 13th
Amendment fully was one such factor. Overcoming shortcomings especially through adequate funding of the Provincial Councils was another important aspect.
Holding elections in the East should also be considered a priority..
Also envisaged is the full implementation of Chapter Four of the Constitution on language which includes recruitment according to ethnic proportions. He further
added that it was a new approach and a pragmatic way forward following a series of failed attempts.
The momentum generated by working together, would enable all communities to build trust, which is a pre-requisite to embark on greater reforms he added. While
describing the APRC as a continuing process in exploring additional proposals the Minister said that the proposals had received the concurrence of all stakeholders
and they were awaiting a positive response from other parties as well.
He added it was the duty of all who value democracy and humanity to support the process to achieve sustainable peace and ethnic harmony in the country.

Interim Advisory Council for the North Governor to be appointed:
Rafik JALALDEEN

The advisory council, which will have representatives from all ethnicities, will directly work with the Northern Province Governor who is to be appointed by the
Government.
This was revealed by Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena at a special news briefing held
yesterday.
Minister Sirisena said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was committed to resolve the national problem and bring lasting peace to the country.
The President will set up the TIAC and appoint a Governor to resolve the problems and discuss minority community grievances in the North.
“The North is yet to be cleared of the LTTE. It is difficult to held an election in the North at the moment. All national issues will be discussed by the TIAC
representatives with the Governor. This will also strengthen the relation between the TIAC representatives and public.”
The President is committed to peace and within two years of becoming President, he had made every effort to bring a political solution to the national problem.
“The LTTE had never given the President an opportunity to discuss the national question. They exploded bombs in the North within a week after he took over as
President,” he added.
The APRC’s success was a historic milestone and major achievement by the present Government. “The President had invited all parties to establish the APRC and all
parties had responded to his invitation. It is the first time ever in the history of country all political parties had come to such an agreement. This would help resolve the
national issue,” Minister Sirisena remarked.
He stressed that the UNP should continue its support to the Government to implement the APRC proposal for the sake of the common masses.
“The UNP was represented at the APRC and ceased its contribution later. We urge the UNP to continue its support to the APRC proposal and extend its
contribution to solve national issues and to salvage the country from terrorism,” he added.
Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said the APRC was the first instance where all parties joined to form a
consensus.
“In the APRC proposal we have Unitary Devolution and Power Devolution which take into account all minority communities and their grievances,” he added.
Minister Amunugama pointed out that the election to be held in the East is part of the exercise. The East was liberated from the LTTE and the Government will hold a
fair and free election. Through the election all communities have an opportunity to elect their party members.
The Ministers said the UNP is making false campaign on the 13th Amendment. “The UNP is saying that we are carrying on with what they have been doing.
In fact, the UNP or any of its leaders could not implement the 13th Amendment in the North and the East. The TIAC which will be appointed by the President is
totally different from the mechanisms envisaged in the Indo-Lanka Agreement.”
Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa was also present.

India welcomes Sri Lanka report on devolution
India today hailed as a "welcome first step" a report submitted to the Sri Lankan government suggesting devolution for that country's provinces.
"The government of Sri Lanka has been good enough to share with us the interim steps recommended by the APRC for implementation of devolution provisions and
official language provisions of the Sri Lankan constitution," Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said.
Sarna added that India would "continue to work with Sri Lanka and its people to bring about ... a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka".

The Abrogation of the CFA
by R. M. B. Senanayake

Those who justify the abrogation of the CFA point to the numerous violations of the truce by the LTTE. They point out that it was a dead letter. They are right. But
the CFA did not prohibit re-arming by either side and while the Government did so openly the LTTE did so covertly.
Those who believe in a military solution argue rightly that Prabakaran will never agree to anything less than Eelaam or a separate state. They hope to defeat the LTTE
and re-conquer the territory which they held at the time of the Ceasefire. The government has already re-conquered the East. The Government hopes to dictate a
political solution which it thinks will be accepted by the Tamils. The Government hopes to vanquish the LTTE and perhaps kill or capture Prabakaran.
Those who argue against a military solution say even a military occupation of the north and east will not bring about peace but only drive the LTTE underground to the
jungles where they will wage a guerrilla war and also unleash a terror campaign in the south, blowing up economic targets and killing civilians, adversely affecting the
economy. These people also point out that in any war even the victor has to sacrifice troops and I am told 15% is about the figure of soldiers that will die or be
maimed. These people argue that a political solution which includes the LTTE is the way out to end the conflict. But they realise that Prabakaran will not accept a
peace agreement and a political solution short of Eelaam. He doesn’t seem to care about the loss of civilian life that is bound to ensure when waging war in highly
populated areas. In the past civilians were not caught up in a war unless the enemy occupied the territory. But with the extension of war to the air and the use of aerial
bombing it is now possible to kill civilians without occupying territory. So civilian casualties seem to be inevitable as argued by hawks.
Ranil realised that Prabakaran was not genuine and that a peace agreement (not even a CFA) could not be left to the good faith of Prabakaran. But he could not have
involved an International Peace Keeping Force to monitor the ground situation as in Kashmir and Palestine earlier, since the public would not have accepted it. So he
wove an international safety net involving the big powers as part of an eventual political solution. He obviously wanted the big powers or the Co-Chairs to underwrite
any political solution and peace agreement. India did not join in and this weakened the strategy. Without a political solution and a peace agreement underwritten by
the International Community it is very unlikely that the LTTE will honour any agreement. Of course the LTTE can point to violations of Agreements by the GOSL
from the B-C Pact onwards. Anyway it is not possible to sustain a peace agreement only on the good faith of the two parties. So these people argue that the conflict
will drag on taking the form of a guerrilla war and a terror campaign even if the Armed Forces conquer the North and dictate a political solution. The only eventual
solution will then be a two state solution and not even that for a permanent state of hostility between the two states could arise.
The abrogation of the CFA will also make the position of Tamil moderates untenable. They will have to accept a political solution which continues majority community
hegemony which is desired by hawks like the JVP and JHU. The JVP perhaps wants to destabilise the south. Didn’t they oppose the Indo-Lanka Pact and take to
the streets? The Tamils in the South will also face an awkward future. They will have to endure the present status quo. The attitude of the Tamil Diaspora is also likely
to harden in favour of the LTTE. The future will show whether the abrogation of the CFA was a case of our burning our boats.