Facilitators and negotiators

ERIK GUDBRAND SOLHEIM: For the 47-year-old Oslo resident, the Sattahip Talks constituted the fruition of years of work as Norway's special envoy for the Sri Lankan peace process. A leftist who is an MP representing the Socialist Party, he just shrugs aside criticism from the island's left-radical Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) that the Norwegian involvement was at the behest of "the imperialist forces".

What does Norway gain from the talks? "Norway has absolutely no interest in the traditional sense military, economic or strategic," Solheim told Frontline. It is the larger issue of global security. "Take it from this perspective. I myself have three kids; if I want a safer world for them that cannot be Norway in isolation. Two hundred years back it could be Norway in isolation. Now... the threats to people are all global. If you allow a lot of regional, local wars to continue that will also ultimately affect the lives of people far away... . In that sense it will also benefit the future efforts of Europe."

It all began in 1998 when Oslo was approached "simultaneously by the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, the then Foreign Affairs Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, and the LTTE leader, V. Prabakaran, to assist in a lot of practical matters to bring peace to Sri Lanka. Gradually it became an official request from both sides, and it was confirmed in 2000."

"We were working for one and a half years in absolute secrecy. Very few people knew about it. We were channelling a lot of messages... . We gradually began to work on the memorandum of understanding, which later became the ceasefire agreement," he said. "... The ceasefire has been the most important. It gave breathing space to conduct talks on a step-by-step basis."

ANTON STANISLAUS BALASINGHAM: He is jovial, he is engaging. At Sattahip, journalists held on to every word he said; more important, what he did not say. All through the conflict, he has been the articulator of the LTTE's ideology. When he spelt out the LTTE's position at Sattahip, he was the first to emphasise that there was consistency in the approach of the Tigers. No, the LTTE had not renounced Eelam and no, there was no question of disarmament. Asked what he thought about India's position, he said: "... India is fully backing the peace process, to be very honest with you, we know (that) very well... . The Norwegians as well as the Sri Lankan government have been briefing India in every aspect of the peace process. If an overall solution is reached and the affected communities are satisfied with a political system, where their rights are recognised, then I think the government in India will be the first to welcome it. They do not want this conflict to continue. An ethnic war in the region is an element of instability in the whole region... ."

GAMINI LAKSHMAN PEIRIS: The head of the government's delegation at Sattahip, he was a picture of optimism. An academic with a doctorate from Oxford University who is a former Vice-Chancellor of Colombo University, Peiris entered politics through the People's Alliance led by Chandrika Kumaratunga. During the P.A. administration he was one of those who were behind a draft constitution, which aimed at greater devolution of powers.

Speaking to Frontline, Peiris was particularly encouraged by the LTTE's interpretation of self-determination. Asked if there was a change in the way Sri Lanka viewed the Thimphu Principles, which it rejected in 1985, he said: "During the last 15 years a lot has happened... . There has been a softening of the position on both sides."

Emphasising that the negotiations would not be a zero sum exercise, he said: "We have to be sensitive to each other's problems and anxieties. We must not try to be clever and trick the other party, have something up your sleeve and take the other party by surprise."

Asked if he felt that the Tigers, who had earlier rejected the draft constitution, would accept it now, he said: "It is not a question of using a carbon copy." Moreover, he said, "The basic problem was not engaging the Tigers. Now it is very different, because we are talking to the protagonist.