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| Sunday, 5 December 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Businessmen share South African experience on peace building by Jayampathy Jayasinghe A South African delegation consisting of businessmen paid a reciprocal visit to the country to help the local business community to share their experience in engaging in peace initiatives. The Workshop was organised by the Sri Lankan business leaders and was chaired by Chairperson Sri Lanka First, Neela Marikkar, an association formed by the business leaders of Sri Lanka. President of the Chamber of Commerce, Deva Rodrigo said that the resumption of the peace process was hampered due to distrust and suspicion among people in the North and the South. There was no bi-partisan approach to solve the problem. He said that due to lack of understanding of ISGA proposals by the business community and the politicians, the implications of ISGA were not known. Although ISGA was a clearly defined document, people in the South were sceptical and would express their concern on certain provisions. Those concerns had to be discussed and debated till a solution was found. Defining the proposals as a sellout of the country wasn't good enough as the proposals put forward by the LTTE can be used for future discussions and negotiations. However, the government has still not responded to its proposals, he said. Mrs. Neela Marikkar stressed the importance of creating the Sri Lankan identity first before being known as a Tamil, Sinhalese or a Muslim. Keith Mokoape, of the African National Congress said there was a similarity between the South African conflict in the 70's and the Sri Lankan conflict situation. The political leadership of South Africa was able to control its militants from unleashing violence. Proliferation of arms and the breakdown of social institutions spread violence in South Africa. Under the political leadership of Nelson Mandela violence was thwarted after ANC para-military unit were disbanded. Kenny Fihla, the Chief Executive of Business Against Crime and Regional Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) said the South African conflict was unique because as it was called a struggle between the black and the whites. Way back in the early 70's violence was unleashed to destabilise institutions of government but when the conflict ended those who participated in the liberation movement were found employment in the armed services or given the option to retire prematurely. The South African delegation consisted of eminent business personalities like Andre Fouries, Chief Executive of the National Business Initiative. John Hall, Chairman of the steering committee who drafted the National Peace Accord, Collin Coleman, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs International, Roelf Meyer, Minister of Constitutional Affairs. |
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