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| Sunday, 27 February 2005 |
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Editorial |  |
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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 11 2429239 / 2331181 Fax : 94 11 2429230 A fresh beginning The Government's decision to talk with the LTTE on an interim structure prior to discussing a final solution to the National Question has given hope that the peace process would be put on track in the not so distant future. This decision taken on the Third Anniversary of the Ceasefire Agreement between the two belligerents marks a fresh beginning. We welcome it. While the ceasefire held for three long years without major confrontations, it should not blind us to the dangers of prolonging a negative peace. As the SLMM had pointed out there were thousands of ceasefire violations. While the bulk of the offences were committed by the LTTE any such event from whichever side could have provoked a violent confrontation if the other side did not exercise restraint. We should remember that war is only a fortnight away according to the terms of the ceasefire. A party withdrawing from the ceasefire has only to give two weeks notice to the Royal Norwegian Government of such intention. Therefore the significance of the Government's move cannot be exaggerated. Particularly the new approach would enable the Government and the LTTE to arrive at an agreement regarding a joint relief mechanism for the Northeast. This is an urgent necessity. The death and destruction is so immense that no amount of political bickering over formalities could justify any delay in setting up such a mechanism. The international community would not be able to understand the logic of inaction in this regard. Right now Sri Lanka has gained maximum attraction and understanding from the community of nations big and small. We should not do any rash act to undermine the goodwill so gained. Not unexpectedly extremist elements have come out openly against the new approach of the Government. Fortunately they are not many. Their influence, however, is in inverse proportion to their numbers. The main reason being the support and solidarity extended to them by the JVP and certain elements within the SLFP. The JVP while claiming adherence to the teachings of Marxism has actually turned to the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) for political counsel. The latter's credo is an eclectic mixture of nationalism, chauvinism and religious fundamentalism. This actually brings into question the socialist credentials of the JVP. We hope the JVP will not be so foolhardy as to accentuate the differences within the UPFA on the issue of an interim authority and show more pragmatism, maturity and humanism. Intransigence, whether it comes from the LTTE or the JVP is a hindrance to the solution of the National Question. No solution could be found if both sides do not show willingness to compromise, to understand the position of the other and above all to consider the plight of the hapless victims of the conflict. We also call upon the LTTE to show at least an equal measure of flexibility so that the peace process could move forward. It takes two to tango, as the saying goes. Talking tough to please your followers is one thing but the art of negotiations require a different type of skill including the ability to compromise. The government mechanism for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction has shown its weakness even in the South. Given the lethargy of the public service this is nothing strange. Hence, one has to accept the necessity of a Government - LTTE joint mechanism to monitor and guide these three processes in the Northeast. The ground situation warrants it. An argument thrust against the establishment of such a mechanism is that it would bestow parity of status to the LTTE in its dealings with the Government. The Ceasefire Agreement has bestowed that parity. It is nothing unusual in a situation of prolonged violent internal conflict. It is recognition of the de facto existence of territory governed by the LTTE. The only way to withdraw this parity is to wage war and change the ground reality. War, however, is unimaginable and has to be excluded as a solution. The solution lies not in war but in building a united federal republic of Sri Lanka where all communities would be equal and treated as such. The United National Front has responded positively to the new approach of the Government. As has been underlined so often we would reiterate our conviction that bipartisan agreement between the two principal political parties is an essential requirement of any viable political solution to the National Question. We cannot also fail to recognise certain sectarian voices in the Opposition that have taken a so-called "We told you so!" attitude and try to fish in troubled waters by instigating dissent within the UPFA and undermine its integrity. Loud mouths of certain politicians on both sides of the divide have to be restrained so as not to spoil the atmosphere. The media also has a crucial role to play at this juncture. It will have to curb its temptation to blow up negative news and assist the development of the positive trends emerging now. Irresponsible reporting also could harm as much as the loud mouths of irresponsible politicians. |
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