2007 - decisive year

by Deshaputra

Midnight today, the nation and the people greet another new year. The new year, has to be a decisive year with regard to peace. The nation has struggled for over three decades to achieve peace. All attempts by the predecessors in the office of President had been thwarted by the terrorism of the LTTE. At present, the only enemy within the country is the LTTE.

Should we allow this enemy to destroy man and property further is the vital question before us. The year gone by has been an year of defeat to this enemy Velupillai Prabhakaran and his LTTE.

Our Defence Correspondent, Ranga Jayasuriya has in his Defence Diary appearing in the opposite page, quite correctly analysed the setbacks suffered by the LTTE and praised the political will and leadership of incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Our Defence Correspondent in his analysis states that President Rajapaksa unlike his predecessors had not politicised the war. This is what the country needed for a long time. In the past, in the face of military successes, past Presidents looked to politicise the war perhaps due to some pressure or for political gain. That demoralised the valiant troops in the battlefront. With only an year in the Presidency, Mahinda Rajapaksa had let the troops conduct their business with discipline and decorum. In the face of LTTE offensives, any legitimately established military is forced to retaliate to protect the people, nation and themselves. Also, the military acted with much patience as the LTTE exploded several claymore mines killing service personnel. Then, the new President had just taken office.

Praiseworthy

The manner in which President Rajapaksa has dealt and is dealing with the current situation is praiseworthy. While countering offensives by the enemy, the President has not given up the hope of finding a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis.

He has put the All Party Conference into action. He has consulted all political parties to reach a consensus. Furthermore, he has created a record in the annals of Sri Lankan politics by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the major opposition political party, the UNP led by Ranil Wickremesinghe. Both these major parties agree that a solution must be found and that it should suit the Sri Lankan model.

In achieving this understanding with the UNP, the President now has the backing of over 80 percent of the population to any reasonable solution that may emerge in the future.

In the new year, the state has to continue a dual role, if it wants to bring peace. Firstly, if the enemy continues to go ahead with terrorism, all efforts should be made to counter and wipe out terrorism. Secondly, efforts to find a political solution must be speeded up. The government may at times come across dissent from certain parties engaged in the process. But, the will of the majority should be considered at such times.

On the other hand, if a viable solution that protects the nation is found, those dissenting parties should also cooperate as this ethnic wound cannot be made to aggravate to a condition of Gangarin or Cancer. It is already nearing that stage.

But, due to the correct political foresight and will of President Rajapaksa it has been averted. Therefore, it is the duty of all parties before the table to cooperate on this sensitive question that is before the country.

A political solution must be based on extensive devolution to the periphery. It is already an accepted fact. Devolution of power to the periphery does not mean it is a division of the country.

The process must be formulated in an acceptable manner to all people in this multi-ethnic country. We must also give up living in dreamlands. Let us live in reality. When the District Development Councils were established, there was a huge cry that the country was divided. So it was when the Provincial Councils were set up. What happened? Did such moves divide the country? No... the need of the hour is to build confidence among all communities. If that is done, the LTTE would find it extremely difficult to exist within the Tamil community. Because every Tamil is not a terrorist and every Tiger is not a true Tamil.

The peace-loving Tamils are more in population than the handful of Tiger terrorists who are misguided by Prabhakaran over a dreamland called Eelam.

New Year

Let us in the New Year that dawns tonight think like one people to tell the world that we are all Sri Lankans. Let us also build confidence among ourselves. Sri Lankans in the past, fought enemies from outside in a united manner. That was how we gained success.

Even in our struggle for Independence, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays and Burghers rallied round the country flag as one people. Let us stand united in 2007 to seek peace. Achieving such peace will not only benefit us but, also generations to come.