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Cease-fire Framework before the Thimphu
Talks
In order to create a congenial atmosphere for an acceptable political
solution to the ethnic question in Sri Lanka, certain steps need to
be taken by the Government of Sri Lanka on the one hand and the Tamil
militants on the other.
The following series of steps should be implemented by the Government
of Sri Lanka on the one hand and the Tamil militants on the other as
indicated, over periods shows against each step (viz.):
Phase I: Start on 18 June for Three Weeks
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Action
to be taken by Sri Lanka Government
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Reciprocal
steps by the Militants
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1.
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Government will lift restrictive legislation on use of roads
and vehicles and suspend enforcement of prohibited zone.
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Stop using the prohibited zone for carrying men and material.
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2.
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New settlements will be suspended.
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Stop attacks on civiliansboth Sinhalese and Tamils
in the North, East and elsewhere.
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3.
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Security forces will carry out cordon and searches and operations
in the presence of local officials and magistrates.
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Cease attacks in the North, East and elsewhere on government
offices, economic targets and private property.
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4.
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Lift of surveillance zone, stop infusion of further resources
to armed services and police establishments.
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Stop induction of men and material to affected areas from outside
Sri Lanka.
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Phase II: Three Weeks
1.
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Security forces will suspend raids and suspend curfew.
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Cease attacks in the North directed against convoys of security
forces including police establishments, mining of roads, rail
tracks and bridges. Stop carrying of arms.
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Phase III: Two weeks
1.
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Observe cease-fire.
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Observe cease-fire
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2.
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Police stations which had been closed down will be reopened and
the law and order function will be carried out by the police.
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3.
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Amnesty will be declared and those in custody against whom charges
have not been filed will be released. (Those who have been charged
will be released after the conclusion of successful discussions).
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Phase IV
Secret talks on substantive issues for reaching a political settlement
to take place between the emissaries of the Government and representatives
of the Tamil political leadership and the Tamil militant groups. The
venue of these talks could be a third country acceptable to both sides.
Every effort should be made to maintain the secrecy of these talks and
in any case, of the course of the discussions. The search of a solid
foundation for a political solution must be completed within a period
of three months from the date of declaration of cease-fire and amnesty.
Depending on the result of these secret talks, open and direct dialogue
between the Government and the representatives of the Tamils can commence
as soon as the necessary groundwork is considered to have been laid.
Agreement Between The Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and the
LTTE
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1. A list of those present is at Annexure attached.
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2. The High Commissioner informed Mr. V. Pirabhakaran
that President Jayewardene has agreed to establish an Interim Administrative
Council for the North and Eastern Provinces, as per the following
composition:
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Chief Administrator/ Administrator in CouncilOne
of the three persons included in the list submitted by the LTTE
to be appointed.
(i) LTTE 5
(ii) TULF 2
(iii) Muslims 2
(to include one nominee of LTTE)
(iv) Sinhalese 2
Total 12
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Mr. Pirabhakaran agreed to the composition of the Interim Administrative
Council as indicated above.
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The High Commissioner Shri J.N. Dixit informed Mr. V. Pirabhakaran
that President Jayewardene had agreed to delegate his executive
powers, as envisaged in paras 10.1 and 10.2 of the Bangalore proposals
to the Administrator in Council during the interim period i.e.,
till elections to the provincial councils are held.
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The Administrator in Council would accordingly be responsible for
the maintenance of law and order responsibilities as outlined in
the relevant paragraphs.
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It was agreed that the establishment of an Interim Administration
would facilitate the fulfilment of the five demands put forward
by the LTTE in its resolution conveyed on 13 September 1987 to the
High Commissioner.
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Mr. Pirabhakaran said that the LTTE would fully cooperate in the
implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement subject to assurances
given to him by the Prime Minister of India in July 1987.
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Mr. Pirabhakaran said that the LTTE would surrender the remaining
arms i.e., other than the personal arms for the security of their
leaders once conditions of security for their leaders and cadres
are created.
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Mr. Pirabhakaran agreed that the LTTE will cooperate fully and
ensure smooth functioning of all aspects of the civil administration,
including the functioning of the police force.
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Mr. Pirabhakaran agreed that free and fair elections to the provincial
council will be held and that the LTTE will cooperate fully in the
process.
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High Commissioner Shri Dixit and Mr. Pirabhakaran agreed that the
LTTE and the Indian official media would desist from mutual criticism.
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In view of agreement having been reached on paras 2 to 11 above,
the Sri Lanka Government will announce the establishment of the
Interim Administrative Council within 48 hours of the signing of
the Agreed Minutes.
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It was also agreed that the Governments of India and Sri Lanka
will formally announce the salient points of the Agreement.
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Upon this being done, the LTTE would make an announcement about
the withdrawal of its agitation and fasting unto death campaign
Signed
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Signed
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(Ms PURI)
First Secretary (Political)
HIGH COMMISSOIN OF INDIA
28 September 1987
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(K. MAHENDRA RAJA)
Dy Leader LTTE
COLOMBO
28 September 1987
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Joint Communique issued by the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka,
Mr. L. Mehotra and the Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka, Mr. Bernard Tilakaratna,
Colombo, 28 July 1989
The President of Sri Lanka has requested the Prime Minister of India
to recommence the withdrawal of the IPKF. The withdrawal will recommence
on the 29th of July 1989. The High Commissioner of India
reiterated the invitation of the Minister of External Affairs of the
Government of India to the Foreign Minister of the Government of Sri
Lanka to visit India to discuss the time schedule for the withdrawal
of the remaining IPKF contingent in Sri Lanka. The invitation has been
accepted. This opportunity will be used to review the implementation
of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement. During the visit of the delegation
of the question of cessation of all offensive military operation by
the IPKF and the safety and security of all communities in North Eastern
Province of Sri Lanka will also be discussed.
Press Statement issued by the Sri Lankan Delegation at the conclusion
of talks, New Delhi,
4 August 1989.
1. A delegation led by Hon. Ranjan Wijeratne, Foreign Minister of
Sri Lanka and comprising Hon. A.C.S. Hameed, Minister of Higher Education,
Science and Technology and senior officials of the Government of Sri
Lanka visited New Delhi from July 29 to August 4, 1989 at the invitation
of the Minister of External Affairs of India, His Excellency Shri
P.V. Narasimha Rao.
2. During their stay in Delhi, the delegation called on the Prime
Minister of India, His Excellency Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The delegation
had two rounds of talks with the Prime Minister of India and several
discussions with the Minister of External Affairs, His Excellency
Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao and the Minister of Defence, His Excellency
Shri K.C. Pant. The talks were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
3. The discussions centered around the regular and expeditious withdrawal
of the IPKF, the cessation of offensive military operations by them
and the security situation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and
other relevant issues. During the discussions, both sides presented
their proposals for resolving the issues involved.
4. The Sri Lanka delegation leaves for Colombo today and will submit
their report to His Excellency President R. Premadasa for his consideration
and decision.
Joint Communique on IPKF withdrawal, Colombo, 18 September 1989
Colombo, September 18. The following is the text of the joint communiqué
issued simultaneously by the Government of India and the Government
of Sri Lanka today.
In pursuance of the communiqué signed in Colombo on July 28, 1989,
by Mr. L. L. Mehrotra, the High Commissioner of India, and Mr. Bernard
Tilakratne, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, three
rounds of consultation were held by the two Governments.
A Sri Lankan delegation, led by the Foreign Minister, Mr. Ranjan Wijeratne,
visited India from July 29 to August 4, 1989. Mr. Bradman Weerakoon,
Special Envoy of the President of Sri Lanka, held further discussion
in New Delhi from August 15 to 17, 1989. A final round of talks was
held between Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, and Mr. Ranjan
Wijeratne, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, during their visit to Belgrade
from September 4 to 7, 1989.
Cordial, friendly: The talks were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
They covered bilateral issues, including the de-induction of the remaining
IPKF contingents in Sri Lanka, the implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka
Agreement, and measures to ensure the safety and security of all communities
of the North-Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.
The implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement was reviewed in
depth by the two sides. The Sri Lankan side briefed the Indian side
on the progress made and the further steps taken by them for the expeditious
implementation of the devolution process, such as establishing of the
provincial police force and facilitating the effective functioning of
the North-Eastern Provincial Council, and the establishment of an adequate
administrative structure for that purpose. The Lankan side also informed
the Indian side that it would institute all measures to strengthen the
civil administration as early as possible which would ensure peace and
normalcy in the North-Eastern Province.
Peace committee: The Sri Lankan side informed the Indian side of their
decision to set up a peace committee on September 20, 1989, to afford
an opportunity to all political and ethnic groups in the North-Eastern
Province to come together to settle their differences, through a process
of consultation, compromise and consensus, and to bring all groups into
the democratic process, thereby ending violence and improving conditions
for the physical safety and security of all communities. This would
help restore normalcy and contribute to the effective functioning of
the North-Eastern Provincial Council. The first meeting of the peace
committee will be held within three weeks of the setting up of this
committee. This decision was welcomed by the Indian side.
It was decided to set up a security coordination group comprising the
Sri Lankan Minister of State for Defence, the Chief Minister of the
North-Eastern Province, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary and the GOC
of the IPKF, with a view to avoiding any adverse impact on the law and
order situation in the North-Eastern Province and to suggest measures
to ensure the safety and security in the North-Eastern Province as the
phased de-induction of the IPKF and the strengthening of the civilian
administration of the North-Eastern Province of Sri Lanka proceed. This
group will keep in view the recommendations of the peace committee relating
to the safety and security of the inhabitants of the North-Eastern Province.
In view of the above, the process of de-induction of the IPKF, which
recommenced on July 29, 1989, will be continued on the expeditious schedule.
All efforts will be made to accelerate the de-induction by December
31, 1989.
The Indian side stated that the suspension of offensive military operations
by the IPKF will come into effect at 6 a.m. on September 20, 1989. An
observer group consisting of the Sri Lanka Army Commander and the GOC
of the IPKF will report any violations of the cessation of hostilities
and immediate consequential action taken, and recommend further remedial
action to the President of Sri Lanka.
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High Commissioner for India
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
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