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The Royal Norwegian
Government |
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ACCELERATED ACTION ON RESETTLEMENT
AND HUMANITARIAN ACTION, PROGRESS ON
HUMAN RIGHTS |
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| STATEMENT |
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| Date: 9 January 2003 |
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The Government
of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) held the fourth session of peace talks
at the Rose Garden in Thailand 6 – 9 January
2003.
Deliberations were conducted in a frank and constructive
atmosphere, with both parties demonstrating their
conviction that the peace process must be sustained
even when difficult issues are addressed.
The main focus of the parties was on the need to ensure
implementation of urgent humanitarian priorities.
It was strongly emphasized that the significant political
breakthrough made at the third session of talks in
Oslo in December 2002, at which the basic principles
for a political settlement were outlined, will be
sustained through continued discussions on political
matters. At the same time, political progress must
be underpinned by tangible improvements in the daily
lives of people. To this end, there is a need for
more effective implementation by the parties as well
as the speedy provision of funds by donor governments.
The parties recognized that the situation with regard
to the High Security Zones involves major humanitarian
and security concerns for both parties. Recent controversies
surrounding this matter were discussed in depth. The
parties did not reach agreement on the continuation
of the work of the Sub-Committee on De-Escalation
and Normalization (SDN).
Notwithstanding the disagreement on this particular
issue, the parties emphasized the need for progress
in resettling the hundreds of thousands of displaced
persons. To this effect, the parties agreed on an
“Action Plan for an Accelerated Resettlement
Programme for the Jaffna District.” As the clear
majority of resettlement cases relate to areas outside
the High Security Zones, the first phase of the Action
Plan will focus on such areas.
The plan sets out four specific tasks and corresponding
deadlines:
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A
preliminary physical assessment to be completed
by 7 February 2003 |
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The formulation
of project recommendations and identification
of potential implementing agencies by 14 February
2003 |
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The identification
of available resources from appropriate funds
by 20 January 2003 |
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A plan to
release premises presently used by the Security
Forces to the original owners or intended purposes,
to be submitted by 31 January 2003. |
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Members
of the Sub-Committee for Immediate Humanitarian and
Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN), representing both the
GOSL and the LTTE, will meet with the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) shortly to
discuss UNHCR participation in effectuating this plan.
The particular needs of the displaced Muslim population
will be duly accommodated in the resettlement process.
The second phase of the Action Plan will focus on
resettlement of IDPs and refugees in areas within
the High Security Zones, as and when they are released
by the Security Forces for resettlement. For this
purpose, the GOSL will carry out a review with the
assistance of an internationally recognized military
expert, taking into account relevant humanitarian
and security needs.
Following the strong political and financial support
pledged by the international community at the Sri
Lanka Support Meeting held in Oslo on 25 November
2002, the parties stressed the need for moving from
planning to implementation of humanitarian and rehabilitation
programmes. The rapid establishment of the North East
Reconstruction Fund (NERF) will be decisive for the
speedy disbursement of international assistance. The
parties welcomed a decision by the Sub-Committee on
Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN)
to select the World Bank as the custodian of the NERF.
Furthermore, the parties confirmed the SIHRN as the
prime decision-making body for meeting immediate humanitarian
and rehabilitation needs in the north and east. The
GOSL in particular undertook to ensure that the respective
roles of government institutions engaged in the north
and east are properly clarified and co-ordinated with
the SIHRN.
In line with the agreement on basic principles for
a political settlement, in which a number of issues
were identified for discussion, the parties will commence
a process for discussion of human rights issues. Human
rights will constitute an important element of a Final
Declaration. As first steps in furthering human rights
issues in the process, the parties agreed on the following:
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A
schedule on human rights issues will be worked
out following discussions at the next session
of peace talks. For this purpose, the assistance
of the agreed human rights adviser to the parties
will be sought. |
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An independent
verification mechanism will be established for
persons Missing in Action (MIA) and Involuntary
Disappearances, with the assistance of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). |
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As a means to
reinforce respect for the provisions of the Ceasefire
Agreement, monthly meetings will be held between the
GOSL, the LTTE and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
(SLMM) in order to discuss issues arising from the
regular SLMM summary of total recorded complaints
and violations of the Ceasefire Agreement. Mr. Fernando
(GOSL) and Mr. Karuna (LTTE) will be responsible for
organizing these meetings and will report on progress
made and any outstanding problems at each session
of the peace talks.
The government expressed serious concerns related
to the recent incident involving transportation of
prisoners through Vanni. The LTTE gave assurances
that the case will be examined and that appropriate
action will be taken as a matter of urgency.
More generally, the parties agreed to ask the facilitator
to propose procedures to ensure rapid corrective action
by the parties in cases of incidents that are or can
be perceived as disrupting the peace process.
Following an agreement made at the third session of
talks, a committee was established to ensure the effective
inclusion of gender issues in the peace process. The
terms of reference for the committee will be formulated
by the members at their first meeting. The committee
will be facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government,
which will seek to provide a senior Norwegian resource
person and necessary financial resources. The committee
will consist of the following five representatives
of each party:
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LTTE: Ms. Sivahimi
Subramaniyam, Ms. Renuga Sanmugaraja, Ms. Mathimalar
Balasingam, Ms. Sridevy Sinnathampi, Ms. Vasanthapireminy
Samasundaram. |
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GOSL: Dr. Kumari Jayawardena,
Dr. Deepika Udagama, Ms. Kumuduni Samuel, Ms.
Faizoon Zakariya, Dr. Fazeela Riyas. |
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The parties
agreed that a Muslim delegation will be invited to
the peace talks at an appropriate time for deliberations
on relevant substantive political issues.
The parties confirmed that subsequent sessions of
peace talks will take place on 7 – 10 February
and 18 – 21 March 2003. The parties also agreed
that additional sessions will be held on 29 April
– 2 May, as well as at an appropriate time in
June to be determined once dates for the International
Donor Conference in Japan are established.
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