Norway was named as co-chair of the conference along with Japan, the US and European Union (EU), but none of the Norwegian high-level team that was involved in the peace process turned up. The reason appears to be the decision of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to boycott the conference.
The Tigers are furious that they were left out of the 14 April pre-Tokyo pledging seminar on reconstruction in Washington. In May, the LTTE demanded the establishment of an interim administration for the north-east region with adequate legal authority. Senior Tiger leaders indicated in early June that only a definite response from the government on the interim administration would persuade them to take part.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe failed in his attempts to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunge before leaving for the conference. President Chandrika also refused a Japanese request for a message to be read at the meeting. Mr Wickremasinghe faced a noisy demonstration in Tokyo on 8 May, by suspected members of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP), who accused him of conniving with the LTTE to divide Sri Lanka.
The $4.5 billion aid will be spread over a four-year period between 2003 and 2006. In addition, there will be technical support. Japan and the Asian Development Bank have each pledged $1 billion and $800 million will come from the World Bank. The EU is expected to provide $293 million. The opposition People’s Alliance (PA) criticized the aid package, describing it as a ‘debt trap’ as 90% would be loans which must be repaid by the people of Sri Lanka. Spokesman Sarath Amunugama said that the PA will reject World Bank development models and adopt alternative plans.
The Tokyo Declaration of 10 June says that the North-East Reconstruction Fund, administered by the World Bank, will be an important channel for assistance. The Declaration emphasizes that assistance by the donor community must be closely linked to substantial and parallel progress in the peace process towards fulfilment of the objectives agreed by the parties in Oslo. In December last year, the government and the LTTE agreed at Oslo to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination in areas of historical habitation of the Tamil-speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka.
The Declaration adds that the peace process would need the expeditious development of a roadmap towards a political solution. It indicates several milestones, including effective delivery mechanisms for development activity in the north-east, participation of a Muslim delegation in peace talks, solutions for those displaced and effective promotion and protection of human rights. The international community intends to review and monitor the progress of the peace process closely. The task of undertaking consultations to establish modalities for periodic reviews were given to Japan, the US and EU.
At the conference, the US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and others urged the LTTE to return to the negotiating table. At a meeting with Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim in London on 23 June, LTTE’s chief negotiator Anton Balasingham again insisted that the Sri Lankan government must submit proposals for an interim administration if the Tigers were to return to talks. Mr Balasingham expressed fear that involvement of powerful extra-territorial forces might complicate the peace process and upset equal partnership. Observers believe that the Tiger leader was referring to the US.
As diplomats continued to visit Kilinochchi for talks with the LTTE, an incident on 14 June threatened to further destabilise the peace process. The Sri Lankan Navy attacked and sank the Tiger ship MT Shoshin off the coast of Mullaitivu District, killing 11 Sea Tigers. The LTTE say that their vessel carrying diesel was 265 nautical miles off the coast in international waters, but the Navy claims that it was within 175 miles. The Exclusive Economic Zone extends upto 200 nautical miles and Sri Lanka has sovereign rights within this zone.
Press reports suggest that the President ordered the sinking of the ship and that Defence Minister Tilak Marapane was informed only after the incident. However, Mr Marapane says there is reasonable suspicion that the vessel was carrying ammunition. He told Colombo newspaper Sunday Observer in late June that in case of reasonable suspicion, the Navy should stop the vessel for the purpose of investigation.
Another LTTE ship was sunk by the Navy off Mullaitivu in March. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has concluded that the Navy had the right to inspect the LTTE vessel according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Tigers violated the Convention by failing to fly an appropriate flag. The SLMM has called on both parties to reach agreement as soon as possible on measures to prevent clashes at sea.