FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS - FIRST SIMULATION

 

 

Monday, 26 March 2007, 6.30 p.m.
Museum für Völkerkunde - Seminarraum DG39
A-1010  WIEN, Neue Hofburg

 

Topic: "The Conflict in Sri Lanka 2006: Setting an Agenda for Peace Negotiations"

 

Positions available

 

People’s Alliance, Sri Lankan Government

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

National Sangha Council

European Union

India

US Special Envoy

United Nations Special Envoy

Norway (Mediator)

 

Hypothetical Scenario

 

The scenario is based on the most current development in the armed conflicted between the Sri Lankan Government and the separatist group Tamil Tiger (LTTE). Following the recent outbreak of violence in the north eastern provinces of Sri Lanka a few months ago, we assume as scenario for our negotiations that the conflicting parties decide to ask Norway, which has been the well-trusted mediator since the latest peace agreement 2001, to convene a meeting. This meeting is not a full-scale peace negotiation, as the conflicting parties wish only to set the agenda and binding conditions to return to the negotiating table.

 

Although the conflict  between the Buddhist Singhalese Majority and Hindu Tamil Minority, concentrated in the north eastern provinces, can be most easily viewed as ethnic conflict, it is a multi-dimensional and protracted one, which results in a large number of casualties, massive human and civil rights violations, material and psychological losses. Sri Lanka has not been able to fully exploit its stable democracy for development, whereas the people of Tamil ethnicity were divided over their political future. The tsunami disaster did not contribute to the solution of this long-lasting problem as expected. Further and more detailed information on the background and course of the conflict should be researched by the negotiators.

 

There are very important elements in this meeting. First, the international community would like to see the end to the conflict and exploit all efforts to reach a peace agreement. Several donors are ready to put pressure on Sri Lanka. Several international agencies, governmental and non-governmental, are seriously concerned with human rights violations from both side and urge international community to act. Secondly, the LTTE has been put on the list of international terrorism of the EU, thus worsening its negotiation position. At the same time, however, the Tamil National Alliance, with whom it enjoys a close relations, with its 22 seats has become an important party in the Parliament, in which the government enjoys just an unstable majority consisting of several federalist parties. Finally, several groups have increased pressure on government: some demand more assertive and harsh reactions, some prefer political solutions such as federalism.

 

The negotiation should produce an agreed framework of, or list of conditions for, peace negotiations. Some important aspects should be mentioned in the negotiation: cease-fire, disarmament, retreat of troops, peace-keeping force, constitutional reform (unitary state or federalism), regional stability, ODA, release of prisoners, ethnic identity, tsunami aid distribution, de-facto Tamil state, human rights violation, LTTE fund-raising activities etc.

 

 

A brief description of the positions of the negotiators

 

People’s Alliance. A social-democratic faction in Parliament. You are the representative of government and responsible for the fight against the LTTE. Being more moderate with regard to the solution of the conflict, you also rely on both the militant group JVP in the faction and a moderate Tamil party and a federalist Muslim party in the parliament.

 

LTTE. You enjoy large popular support in the region and have demonstrated military strength during the latest fight. You effectively run a Tamil state in the Northeast, but the financial support from outside is depleting. You also receive aid from Tamil population in India. Your political allied possesses almost 10% of the seats in the parliament.

 

National Sangha Council. You are one of the largest and most powerful political pressure groups and represent an extremely anti-Tamil and chauvinist view. Consisting of Buddhist monks, you enjoy respect among the population. You are cooperating with the opposition.

 

European Union. You regard the LTTE as terrorist organisation but support direct talks with the group. You are dismayed with the human rights situation in the fighting area and continuously advocate federalism, decentralisation and autonomous Tamil region as long-lasting solution. You are the largest donor of the ODA which the economy of Sri Lanka depends on.

 

US Special Envoy. For you, the LTTE is a terrorist organisation with the operational and financial links to several international terrorist groups. You are a traditional allied of Sri Lanka.

 

India. You have sent the peace-keeping troops to the conflict area from 1987-1990 but were unsuccessful. You are concerned with regional stability and rather interested in Sri Lanka as unitary state.

 

UN Special Envoy. You are alarmed by the extensive human rights violations, the situation of internally displaced persons and interested development issues. The information you have is very highly valued by the ODA donors.

 

Norway. You are interested in the success of the negotiation, highly credited and consulted by all parties as trustworthy mediator.

 

 

This short description of positions is aimed at helping the interested parties to select the preferred position, while keeping detailed interests and information of each position unknown to negotiating partners.

 

 


  LAST UPDATE: 7 APRIL 2007