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| Sunday, 27 April 2003 |
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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 Suspense The month of April is usually one of fun and frolic as the urban elite treads the British colonial path to Nuvara Eliya as the English once did to escape the humid onset of the hot season in their 'Little England' hill resort. The bigger, islandwide, festive occasion is, however, mid-month when the vast majority of Sri Lankans celebrate the traditional New Year festival. This year, though, the festive spirit was somewhat dampened by the sudden declaration by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that they were withdrawing from the peace talks process. The reasons given were chiefly the exclusion of the LTTE, a partner along with the Government in the on-going political negotiations, from a crucial aid mobilisation meeting in the United States of America, and also the alleged failure on the part of the Government to fulfil rehabilitation and security measures pledged in previous meetings. The LTTE leadership, however, has taken pains to reassure the country and the international community that its withdrawal was not the abrogation of the Cease-fire Agreement of February 2002, nor a precursor to a new phase of belligerence. The moments of heightened alarm experienced by most Sri Lankans throughout the country in the midst of the festivities passed quickly as the country remained free of any trend towards war. This is because the Government and the national political leadership of all political shades resisted any alarmist posturing or warmongering. Instead, the President, the Prime Minister and the rest of the national leadership has taken pains to respond with sobriety and sensitivity. Numerous public pronouncements have already been made to reassure both the public as well as the Tiger leadership that the LTTE's withdrawal action is not be responded to in ways that would further aggravate the situation. All sections of Sri Lankan society on all sides of the ethnic conflict have contributed towards the maintenance of current atmosphere of calm and hope of a permanent peace. Even if the holiday season has been marred by the suspense caused by the LTTE's negative action, this suspense has not been allowed to worsen. Rather, every effort is being made to resolve the problem. To its credit, the LTTE too has not taken the issue any further with other actions that could worsen the situation. Rather, there seems to be a constructive 'wait and see' attitude which indicates a positive approach by the Tigers - a readiness to receive any overtures by the Government and the Norwegian facilitators and to proceed beyond the current problem by engaging in dialogue. Given this positive attitude on the part of all sides, there is every likelihood that the current hiatus in the negotiating process will not be a long term problem, let alone lead to a breakdown of the cease-fire. The very fact that communication between all sides is continuing indicates the emphasis being given by all for the maintenance of the overall peace process even if formal talks are in suspense. Indeed, it is feasible that if all sides make that extra effort at conciliation and receptivity, then the talks process too could resume with only a short delay. It is clear that the political leaderships are keenly aware that the citizenry has strong expectations of mature political behaviour from all their leaders and desire the steady continuation of peace-making and the avoidance of any trend toward a return to hostilities. While the Government and the international community have the responsibility to categorically indicate to the Tiger leadership that it is being included in every aspect of the peace process as a crucial partner, the LTTE can only win further confidence by behaving in a manner that does not leave any doubt about its intentions concerning a peaceful and reasonable settlement of the ethnic conflict. |
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