Views on Mahinda- diplomacy: 'President's speech brought back the good image of Sri Lanka'

by Thava Sajitharan

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's remarks at the 14th summit of the Non Aligned Movement in Havana and the United Nations' 61st general assembly in New York have received wide acclaim in the international arena as well as in the local political realm.

While admitting that Tamils and Muslims living in the country have problems and such problems have to be settled through dialogue, he said that the LTTE could not be allowed to control the people.

"My government is ready for talks. But the LTTE cannot defeat us by terrorism or any other means", he said in New York.

"All efforts that have been taken by successive governments, including mine, to enter into dialogue with this group (LTTE) have so far failed", the President told the NAM summit in Havana. He also called on the international community to extend its fullest support for the democratic transformation of the LTTE.

The Sunday Observer spoke to several representatives of political parties to get their views on the President's observations. Here are excerpts: Ven. Athuraliye Rathna Thera, Member of Parliament, Jathika Hela Urumaya: "We welcome the speeches President Rajapaksa made at the summit of the Non Aligned Movement and the United Nation's assembly with regard to defeating terrorism.

In the years gone by, our political leaders were hesitant to tell the world that the LTTE was a terrorist outfit.

But, President Rajapaksa has clearly stated that the LTTE is a terrorist group and not a movement fighting for liberation. He has firmly said that terrorism should be defeated first.

This is significant, considering the fact that certain Non-Government Organisations and some so-called scholars in this country articulate that we should focus on economic growth rather than defeating terrorism.

Even the former Prime Minister and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe holds such a notion. Terrorism is the biggest threat to the country. President Rajapaksa has a correct view as far as the national security is concerned.

N. Raviraj, Member of Parliament, Tamil National Alliance: The President said at the United Nations that he is for peace and ready for talks. But, the Tamils are living in fear. When the President summoned the All Party Conference, the members of the Tamil National Alliance who represented the people in the North-East were not invited.

How can you discuss the national question without taking into concern the proposals of the representative of the Tamil community? (Parliamentarian Raviraj's comments were made at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday).

K. A. Baiz, National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC): As far as the SLMC is concerned, we have always said that peace should be reached through dialogue and not through war.

The President's remarks made in Havana as well as at the United Nation's assembly is to be warmly welcomed since he has spoken in favour of negotiations ignoring the communal elements both within and outside the government such as the Jathika Hela Urumaya and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

His speech has brought back the good image of Sri Lanka amongst the international community. Ananda Sangari, leader, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF): I'm in full agreement with President Rajapaksa when he says that the LTTE cannot defeat the government by terrorism or any other means.

But, I doubt whether it's worthwhile trying to negotiate with the LTTE. The LTTE has its own agenda.

Therefore, my suggestion to the President is that the government should come out with a proposal that is acceptable to and fair by all.

It should be inclusive of the recommendations of the international community. If the LTTE still rejects it, forget about them. I wish to insist that the time has come for the government to come out with a proposal.

People are living in untold hardship. The plight of the people should be the prime concern for the government.

Several attempts to contact the JVP and UNP proved futile.