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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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Editor, Sunday Observer. E-mail: [email protected] Snail mail : Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 1 429239 / 331181 Fax : 94 1 429230 Maligawatte The country's tourism industry had just begun investing in refurbishment and had recruited several thousands to bring their staff strength to full capacity in anticipation of their first 'full houses' in decades. The encouragingly long stretch of the cease-fire coupled with an anticipated diversion of tourists from South East Asia after the Bali bombing, had the local industry eagerly expecting a Christmas and New Year boom after decades of doldrums, losses and indebtedness. Then, last Wednesday, the world's media was again broadcasting images of burning buildings and vehicles - albeit a very few, small shops and, a motorbike or two - in north Colombo along with reports of riots and curfews. Is the happy expectation of a slow recovery, a prospect of jobs, incomes, profits and a revived security all to be lost in impulsive, intolerant violence? Even as the country breathlessly marked the 250th day of the ceasefire after the Agreement of February 23rd, ethnic jealousy, hatred, suspicion and enmity exploded, not in the one-time war zone in the North-East but in the heart of Colombo. The efforts of many and the hopes of tens of millions of Sri Lankans hung on a thread last week, but, thankfully, the flames of communal passion did not burn too long, nor did they spread far. If they had done so, the country would have returned to the trauma and chaos from which it has barely begun to emerge. Yet another generation of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, Malays and Sri Lankans of other ethnic groups and mixed ethnicity would have been condemned to deprivation, economic stagnation and frustrated aspirations and hopes. The progress of the peace talks in Thailand, a sign of enlightened action and commitment at national level on both sides of the war, must be complemented by a commitment to justice, tolerance, plurality and democracy at all levels in society. Those who claim to moral and spiritual leadership in our society must lead by example. Citizens, both humble and powerful, rich and poor, must share in the effort toward reconciliation. The primary lesson of the war has been that intolerance and inequity cannot be sustained without heavy costs and that violence is not the answer to Sri Lanka's ethnic problem. Despite decades of military effort and bloodshed on all sides, it is the effort for a political settlement today, that offers hope for peace. While laws and political and social structures must have the capacity to ensure that this bitter lesson learned is heeded, it is also up to the individual Sri Lankan to take the lesson to heart and live accordingly. In Maligawatte, a just settlement of the problem that caused last week's violence will be one small demonstration of that lesson learned. Iraq Even as the United Nations argues over language and member states negotiate their gains and advantages in their role in deciding on action in relation to Iraq, the people of that ravaged country continue to suffer not only from crippling economic sanctions but also from a remorseless aerial bombing campaign. When will the world community of nations come to a democratic, collective decision on this tragic geo-political problem that upholds globally accepted standards of humanity and justice? The future of the United Nations and of global democracy depends on the success of this collective, multi-lateral, decision-making process while the seeds of international chaos lie in unilateral action and the impulsive use of violence in defiance of collective values of humanity and civilization. |
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