NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand, Jan. 9 (Kyodo) By: Varunee Torsricharoen The Sri Lankan government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended their fourth round of peace negotiations Thursday with both sides reiterating their convictions to move on the process over human rights and humanitarian issues despite disputes over military issues.

Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, who led the government delegation, told a news conference that political trust between Colombo and the LTTE remains firm despite disagreements.

''From time to time, there'll be disagreements. Each time there is a disagreement, it must not represent as though the peace process is in jeopardy. Indeed, it will be very naive to think that a conflict which has been as complex as this could be resolved by a process without any differences of opinions between the parties,'' he said.

During the four-day talks in a garden resort in central Thailand, the two sides discussed in depth recent controversies on major humanitarian and security concerns in the military-occupied zone in the country's northern Jaffna Peninsula, known as the High Security Zone.

But they reached no agreement to continue the work under a subcommittee on de-escalation and normalization, according to a statement released by the Norwegian government which facilitated the peace talks.

LTTE refused to work with Sri Lankan armed forces in the subcommittee on de-escalation and normalization, saying it was ''unacceptable'' that Colombo's military leaders demanded the LTTE disarm and decommission its weapons as preconditions for the government to allow the resettlement of displaced persons.

Anoton Balasingham, chief negotiator of the LTTE, told the same news conference that weapons were ''bargaining tools'' of the Tamil people and therefore it was ''unrealistic'' for the Tamil fighters to give up their arms before securing a permanent solution with Colombo.

''Notwithstanding the disagreement on this particular issue, the parties emphasized the need for progress in resettling the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and agreed on an Action Plan for an Accelerated Resettlement Program for the Jaffna District,'' the statement said.

The first phase of the action plan will focus on resettlement of internally displaced persons into the areas outside the High Security Zones occupied by the government's armed forces.

The two sides are scheduled to submit a plan to release premises presently used by the security forces to the original owners or intended purposes by the end of this month, according to the statement.

The two parties by the subcommittee for immediate humanitarian and rehabilitation needs will consult with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees on their resettlement programs.

To subsequently resettle displaced persons into the High Security Zones, the Sri Lankan government will carry out a review with the assistance of an internationally recognized military expert, taking into account relevant humanitarian and security needs, the statement said.

The Sri Lankan chief negotiator described the latest talks on humanitarian issues as an effort to raise ''confidence'' among people in the embattled zone. He said the two parties focused on ''day-to-day problems of people, to make life easier and better for the people in the affected areas.

The two sides also agreed to pursue discussion on human rights issues including issues related to persons Missing in Action and Involuntary Disappearances.

''Human rights issues will not be postponed until the final political agreement is arrived at. Human rights will govern the process of negotiations. At the conclusion of the process when we adopt a legally binding constitutional instrument, there will be a chapter on human rights,'' Peiris said.

He said issues related to the police would be one of the priorities the Sri Lankan government would seek.

The two parties have invited international human rights activist Ian Martin to help as an advisor to work out on human rights issues.

They have also agreed to seek assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in setting up an independent verification mechanism on persons Missing in Action and Involuntary Disappearances.

Moreover, they have appointed five representatives from each party for a committee on gender issues as part of the peace process, the statement said.

The next round of talks is scheduled to be held in Thailand on Feb. 7 to 10, March 18 to 21, and April 29 to May 2. Another round of peace talks will be held in June in Tokyo back to back with the International Donor Conference, the statement said. Published: Thu Jan 9 12:54:47 EST 2003

The agency said it welcomed the move because it was ``increasingly concerned about the fate of persons unaccounted for in connection with armed conflict and internal violence throughout the world and the anguish this causes their families.''

The agency said it was ``deeply committed to heightening awareness of this issue among governments, the military, national and international organizations ... and the general public.''

The ICRC said it has been approached by the families of over 20,000 civilians and combatants in the past 12 years. Few of the missing have been found, either dead or alive.

The ICRC said it will ``continue its tracing work in the country until all the families are provided with an answer.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam have fought since 1983 for a separate state for the island's Tamils, accusing the Sinhalese majority of widespread discrimination in education and jobs.

Nearly 65,000 people have been killed and another 1.6 million displaced in the war, before a Norway-brokered cease-fire signed last February, which is generally holding.

The government and the Tigers are in a fourth round of peace negotiations in Thailand. Published: Thu Jan 9 14:45:00 EST 2003