LTTE-SLMC Joint Communique

  • Country/entity
    Sri Lanka
  • Region
    Asia and Pacific
  • Agreement name
    LTTE-SLMC Joint Communique
  • Date
    13 Apr 2002
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Sri Lankan Civil War (1983 - 2009) )
  • Stage
    Pre-negotiation/process
  • Conflict nature
    Government/territory
  • Peace process
    Sri Lanka LTTE 2002 onward process
  • Parties
    Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam:
    signed by Vellupillai Pirapahran, National Leader
    Mr. Anton Balasingham, Political Ideologue;
    Mr. S. P. Thamil Chelban,Head of the Political Wing;
    Col. Karuna, Commander for the Batticaloa-Ampara districts;
    Col. Pathuman, Commander for the Trincomalee district;
    and Mrs. Adel Balasingham

    Sri Lanka Muslim Congress:
    signed by Rauf Hakeem, National Leader;
    Mr. Athaullah, Chairman;
    Dr. Uthumalebbe, Senior Deputy Leader;
    Mr. Mohideen Abdul Cader, Deputy Leader;
    Mr. Basheer Segu Dawood, Secretary, Policy Propaganda;
    Mr. Mashoor Noordeen, Deputy Chairman;
    and Mr. Mashood Mowlana, Additional Secretary, Policy Propaganda.
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    Short joint statements, ceding representation of the Muslim population in the Northeast to the SLMC. Agreement further provides provisions for the creation of a Joint committee of representatives from the LTTE and SLMC to facilitate the return and resettlement of refugees and aid them cultivate the land, as well as for the LTTE to stop the collection of monies to finance the war from Muslims.


Groups

  • Children/youth

    No specific mention.

  • Disabled persons

    No specific mention.

  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group

    No specific mention.

  • Religious groups
    Groups→Religious groups→Substantive
    Page 1,
    ...At this meeting decisions were made to solve some serious problems currently faced by the Muslims living in the North/East. Mr. Pirapaharan invited the displaced Muslims of Jaffna and Vanni to return to their homes. It was decided to establish a Joint Committee consisting of representatives of the LTTE and the SLMC to facilitate the return and settlement of refugees. It was also decided to create a conducive environment to encourage the return of the displaced Muslims of the East to their villages...

    Page 1,
    ...For years Muslims were unable to cultivate their agricultural lands in the North/East. It was decided to assist them to cultivate their land. The LTTE also agreed to stop forthwith the practice of collecting funds for the war effort from the Muslims of the East...

    Page 1,
    ...It was decided to appoint representatives from the SLMC to solve, through dialogue with senior commanders, the problems the Muslims face in their districts of the North/East and to strengthen mutual understanding between the Tamils and Muslims....

    Page 1,
    ...It was also decided that the Muslims should be represented at the forthcoming peace talks between the Government and the LTTE and that such representation should be from the SLMC...

    Page 1,
    ...It was further agreed that the Muslim are a separate community with their own identity and that the political, cultural and other rights of Muslims, as a district community of the North/East, must be safeguarded. It was decided to continue the discussions to protect the separate identity of the Muslims...

    Page 1,
    ...Recognising that the SLMC enjoys the support of the vast majority of the Muslim community, it was decided that discussions with regard to the Muslims of the North/East should be conducted with the SLMC...
  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons
    Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
    Page 1, Paragraph 3, At this meeting decisions were made to solve some serious problems currently faced by the Muslims living in the North/East. Mr. Pirapaharan invited the displaced Muslims of Jaffna and Vanni to return to their homes. It was decided to establish a Joint Committee consisting of representatives of the LTTE and the SLMC to facilitate the return and settlement of refugees. It was also decided to create a conducive environment to encourage the return of the displaced Muslims of the East to their villages.
  • Social class

    No specific mention.


Gender

  • Women, girls and gender

    No specific mention.

  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)

    No specific mention.

  • State configuration

    No specific mention.

  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation

    No specific mention.

  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)

    No specific mention.

  • Elections

    No specific mention.

  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution

    No specific mention.


Power sharing

  • Political power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Territorial power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing

    No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general

    No specific mention.

  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation

    No specific mention.

  • Civil and political rights
    Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Other
    Page 1, Paragraph 8, It was further agreed that the Muslim are a separate community with their own identity and that the political, cultural and other rights of Muslims, as a district community of the North/East, must be safeguarded. It was decided to continue the discussions to protect the separate identity of the Muslims.
  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship

    No specific mention.

  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication

    No specific mention.

  • Mobility/access

    No specific mention.

  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI

    No specific mention.

  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law

    No specific mention.

  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts

    No specific mention.

  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business

    No specific mention.

  • Taxation
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Taxation→Reform of taxation
    Page 1, Paragraph 5, The LTTE also agreed to stop forthwith the practice of collecting funds for the war effort from the Muslims of the East.
  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights

    No specific mention.

  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage
    Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Intangible
    Page 1, Paragraph 8, It was further agreed that the Muslim are a separate community with their own identity and that the political, cultural and other rights of Muslims, as a district community of the North/East, must be safeguarded. It was decided to continue the discussions to protect the separate identity of the Muslims.
  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees

    No specific mention.

  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces

    No specific mention.

  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon

    No specific mention.

  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Prisoner release

    No specific mention.

  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims

    No specific mention.

  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


Implementation

  • UN signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Enforcement mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    Edrisinha, Gomez, Thamilmaran, Welikala (Eds.) (2008), ‘Power-sharing in Sri Lanka: Constitutional and Political Documents, 1926-2008’ (Colombo: Centre for Policy Alternatives), p. 680.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam –Sri Lanka Muslim Congress

Joint Communique (2002)

The discussion that took place today (13-04-2002) between the LTTE and the SLMC was friendly and constructive.

At this meeting held at the Secretariat of the Political Headquarters of the LTTE at Kilinochchi, which lasted three hours, the LTTE was represented by its leader Mr. Vellupillai Pirapaharan, Political Ideologue Mr. Anton Balasingham, Head of the Political Wing Mr. S. P. Thamil Chelban, Commander for the Batticaloa-Ampara districts Col.

Karuna, Commander for the Trincomalee district Col.

Pathuman and Mrs. Adel Balasingham.

The SLMC was represented by its National Leader Mr. Rauf Hakeem, Chairman Mr. Athaullah, Senior Deputy Leader Dr. Uthumalebbe, Deputy Leader Mr. Mohideen Abdul Cader, Secretary, Policy Propaganda Mr. Basheer Segu Dawood, Deputy Chairman Mr. Mashoor Noordeen and Additional Secretary, Policy Propaganda Mr. Mashood Mowlana.

At this meeting decisions were made to solve some serious problems currently faced by the Muslims living in the North/East.

Mr. Pirapaharan invited the displaced Muslims of Jaffna and Vanni to return to their homes.

It was decided to establish a Joint Committee consisting of representatives of the LTTE and the SLMC to facilitate the return and settlement of refugees.

It was also decided to create a conducive environment to encourage the return of the displaced Muslims of the East to their villages.

For years Muslims were unable to cultivate their agricultural lands in the North/East.

It was decided to assist them to cultivate their land.

The LTTE also agreed to stop forthwith the practice of collecting funds for the war effort from the Muslims of the East.

It was decided to appoint representatives from the SLMC to solve, through dialogue with senior commanders, the problems the Muslims face in their districts of the North/East and to strengthen mutual understanding between the Tamils and Muslims.

It was decided to continue the high level contacts between parties.

It was also decided that the Muslims should be represented at the forthcoming peace talks between the Government and the LTTE and that such representation should be from the SLMC.

It was further agreed that the Muslim are a separate community with their own identity and that the political, cultural and other rights of Muslims, as a district community of the North/East, must be safeguarded.

It was decided to continue the discussions to protect the separate identity of the Muslims.

Recognising that the SLMC enjoys the support of the vast majority of the Muslim community, it was decided that discussions with regard to the Muslims of the North/East should be conducted with the SLMC.

Sgd Sgd

V. Pirapahran (Rauf Hakeem)

National Leader National Leader

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Sri Lanka Muslim Congress