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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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Politics |  |
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Resuming peace negotiations : Politics of the UNF and UPFA by Ajit Rupasinghe, Secretary, Ceylon Communist Party - Maoist It is to be recalled that the UPFA was formed with the explicit intention of arresting the peace negotiations carried on between the UNF Government and the LTTE. It specifically attacked the UNF peace agenda on the basis that it was betraying the country by giving into the LTTE demand for a separate State in the North-East. This accusation was coupled to the issue that the UNF was using this peace agenda to expose the country and the people to even more ruthless plunder and exploitation by imperialist powers, under the guise of the 'Regaining Sri Lanka' program. It was further claimed by the UPFA that the UNF had brought the entire country to crisis of national security. Finally, the UNF Government was accused of rampant and gross corruption as part of serving a parasitic, technocratic class of compradors at the expense of piling poverty and misery on the masses. As part of the UPFA strategy to unseat the UNF, the President took over three key ministries, dissolved Parliament and called for a General Election. The UPFA attacked the UNF agenda on solid grounds. The sovereignty of the country was being sold outright to the US, the economy mortgaged to cronies and the people offered as sacrificial lambs to the wolves of international finance capital. Yet, for all its crimes, the UNF peace process had led to the historic milestone of the Oslo Agreement where the Government and the LTTE agreed to seek a political settlement that gave recognition to the right of internal self-determination to the Tamil nation cohabiting in the North-East within a united country based on a federal framework. Instead of building on this achievement, the UPFA asserted that the UNF was betraying the "nation" by dividing the country. The Oslo Agreement, in fact, laid the basis to unite a divided country. It offered-and still offers the last chance for peace. However, following the Oslo Agreement, the LTTE withdrew from the peace process. This was due to deliberate interference by the US and the inability of the UNF to resolve any of the core issues. The failed peace process produced the ISGA proposals in the form of a maximalist stand by the LTTE, as a basis or continuing negotiations. Subsequently, the UPFA routed the UNF and came to power. However, the UPFA contains an irreconcilable contradiction. It is composed of class interests and agendas that are diametrically opposed. The JVP's position is calculated to paint the LTTE as the historical enemy of the Sinhala Buddhist nation and a terrorist force that has to be militarily liquidated. This position pre-empts any possibility of a negotiated political settlement. The President on the other hand, had initiated negotiations with the LTTE previously and had produced proposals for constitutional reform aimed at addressing the historic grievances of the Tamil people. Given the polarity between such positions, the UPFA can only compound and intensify the national crisis. Confidence in the peace process is breaking down while both sides of the divide prepare for a possible resumption of hostilities. Only the JVP stands to gain from such a deteriorating situation. Given these irreconcilable contradictions, how is the UPFA to deliver an 'honourable peace'? Helm of state The only way out of an engulfing crisis and an impending national catastrophe is for President Chandrika to firmly take the helm of state. She can do so only by; 1) Presenting realistic alternative proposals to the ISGA proposals formulated within the framework of the Oslo Agreement and resume negotiations without any further prevarication, 2) Cultivate and enter a partnership with the Opposition to develop democratic consensus and work out a common position, 3) Develop understanding with the Maha Sangha and all other religious institutions to work together to develop a national consensus, 4) Involve all progressive civil society institutions and players to ground the peace process firmly among the masses, 5) Keep foreign interference clearly at bay, 6) Resist the tendency to monopolize and perpetuate the political power of the UPFA through extra-legal, unconstitutional means and finally, 7) Place the future of the country and the people above narrow personal gain. This is, of course, far too much to expect given the political culture in the South. However, other countries wracked by protracted war have found the way to resolve the internal national conflicts by providing courageous leadership. We are rapidly approaching a most momentous conjuncture in our entire history as an ancient civilized human community. The future of our beloved land, our historical identity, our sovereignty, our right to life is at stake. There is no more time for diplomatic posturing and prevarication. Explosive contradictions gather force impelled by the logic of their own motion and resolution. War clouds gather in the sky. Simmering underneath the volcano is the issue of War or Peace. Neither the gods nor history, not the people nor humanity shall tolerate a return to war. Dramatic and decisive steps have to be taken to build confidence, given the game of low-grade politics that all political parties continue to play. If such clear and decisive steps are taken with honesty and commitment, the gods, history, the people and all humanity shall rise together to achieve their peace. All political forces, including the UPFA, the Opposition, across the divide and beyond the seas are on stand to be judged by the people-and that day of judgement is inevitable even as it draws nearer day by day! |
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