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| Sunday, 19 January 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Ensure another year of peace Press release of People's Peace Front Lakshan Dias, DADNC Wimalaratne, Malini Dissanayake, Co-coordinators S. Sivagurunathan, Treasurer Milton A. Perera, M.S. Selvendran Joint-Secretaries People's Peace Front which is a coalition of more than 140 peace organizations working in all parts of Sri Lanka emphasize the above note as we believe that the peace dividends resulted in changes of mentality of all the people of Sri Lanka remarkably during the year 2002. Absence of war during the past twelve months provided all nationalities to think positively on cohabitation within a united country. We are stepping into another year with anxiety and hope therefore all people will expect the continuation of the existing ceasefire and peace talks to end the decades old political and ethnic war. When we step into another year it is useful to have some reflections on what kind of landmarks and goals we have to achieve together. What we experienced throughout last year was that different factions emerge as parties to the conflict, and it seems to be further expanded. We have to find solutions for all those grievances. It is unavoidable that different identities and groups, who are victimized by the war and conflict, raise their voices when they breathe the air of freedom. Therefore all must look at these demands of different groups as a positive sign towards peace. We all must try hard to guarantee the aspirations of all parties to the conflict and reach to a win-win position. Broader political consensus among the nationalities and groups to the conflict will be the most difficult target that negotiating parties and the Norwegian facilitators will face in the coming year. We must look at he Norwegian Mediation as the most fruitful way to achieve sustaining peace and should not allow negative thinkers to obstruct the process. Deprived and dissatisfied groups may deviate from peace process and they may use even violence as a bargaining power point. Therefore addressing these challenges are in front of us. Very importantly people of this country must ensure larger participation in the peace process by actively taking part in the peace discourse, be critical of each step taken and by side lining or exposing the hard liners or pressurize the hard liners to change their position on the peace process. The international community should tighten its grip on democracy, human rights and the Justice for the aggrieved parties, while ensuring the major partners of the conflict will not be affected due to their commitment towards peace. Importantly the international community should not act on vested interest or geopolitical interest but with interest of the People of Sri Lanka. We the People's Peace Front therefore appeal to GOSL, LTTE, SLMC and the President to maintain a multi partisan approach to the conflict and ensure justice for all aggrieved nationalities and ethnic groups and specially to all the victims of conflict. |
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