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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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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 decisive moment We are passing through a decisive moment. The fate of the country would depend on whether the country's leaders would be able to take correct decisions. A false step is pregnant with disaster tomorrow, if not today. Decisions have to be taken not on emotion or on the spur of the moment. There are various forces with vested interests, mostly sectarian that do not encompass the totality of our present objective reality. This is a time for sober reflection on our reality, on the short and long-term repercussions of our present decisions. We refer in particular to the controversy over the proposed Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (PTOMS). Should we or should we not enter into any agreement with the LTTE on this matter? Whether we like it or not the reality is that there are government-controlled areas and LTTE controlled areas in the North East, an area severely affected by the tsunami last December. The people of the entire North East are also our citizens to whom the government has an obligation to provide the necessities. That is another reality. These necessities in the aftermath of the tsunami mean providing relief to victims, rehabilitating them and reconstructing their life and habitat. It should be clear to any sensible person that there should be cooperation between the Government and the LTTE to carry out these tasks effectively. It is simply impossible to leave out an organization that is in effective control of territory. Such cooperation does not signify any negation of sovereignty or territorial integrity of the country. Already there are numerous instances of such cooperation on the ground. PTOMS is an administrative structure that formalises what actually is happening on the ground in reality. Fears have been expressed that PTOMS would lead to a loss of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The protection of these is in the hands of the armed forces whose Commander-in-Chief is the President. PTOMS does not take away any constitutional powers of the President. Besides the international community has guaranteed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. It was only yesterday that our powerful neighbour India reiterated its commitment to safeguard them. In today's world sovereignty and territorial integrity could best be protected with their support. There is also an argument that PTOMS would mean accepting the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil people. Whether the LTTE is the sole representative of the Tamil people or not is a matter for those people to decide. What has been recognised by bringing the LTTE into the PTOMS is that they are the major power in the area of its operation. It is also argued that the LTTE is a terrorist organization that is armed. Engaging an armed organization does not necessarily mean condoning its armed attacks or violations of human rights. On the other hand it would provide a means of giving them an opportunity to join the mainstream of politics and enter the path of democratic struggle, as the JVP had done. The government should think of the plight of the tsunami victims whose cry for relief and redress should be heard and responded to TODAY. It cannot be ignored or left to any future government. It should not give into blackmail and intimidation by interested parties who under cloaks of race and religion are trying to destabilise the country paving the way for another Eelam War or foreign intervention. The government should also take the people into confidence and explain the objectives and content of PTOMS to those sections of the people including sections of the Maha Sangha who harbour genuine fears concerning the future of the country. The issues in question should be discussed, debated and consensus sought in a civilised way instead of taking the path of confrontation, violence and terror. The role of the JVP, a constituent of the government in this grave hour of crisis brings into question whether they seek a solution or a compromise. The language of ultimatums is not the language of working in united fronts. Perhaps they are unable to control the very forces they nurtured in order to secure a sectarian advantage over its partners in the Alliance. If one follows their logic there is no possibility of not only forming any administrative structure for tsunami relief but also of any negotiated peace for the country's protracted destructive civil war. Though they do not call for war in words, their actions would ultimately lead to the creation of a war situation from which no one would be able to extricate him or herself. It would also enable the LTTE to blame the majority community for a resumption of the war and win sympathy of the international community which in today's context would certainly threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, the very things the JVP proclaims to defend. |
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