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| Sunday, 29 September 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Appeal by scholars: Stop child recruitment Today we witness another stage in a long process of what may become at least a partial settlement of the country's long-standing ethnic conflict. We welcome all recent moves of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam toward arriving at a settlement, the MOU and the proposed peace talks in Thailand. But, while we welcome all steps taken in this direction, we urge all parties to the process, particularly those playing an active role in it, to be alive to the political situation and to the long-term consequences of their actions. We also strongly oppose those racist groups in the south that oppose the de-proscription of the LTTE, are campaigning against the talks, and are against any political settlement of the issue. Attempts to resolve the conflict have broken down in the past, and we as citizens and residents of Sri Lanka, who welcome a just and democratic peace in the country, had consciously decided to adopt a cautious approach in our criticisms of its direction. But upon reflection we do not feel morally responsible for the success or failure of these negotiations; rather, we see our moral obligation towards those who have to live, day in day out, with the consequences of the ongoing peace process. In that light we wish to express our outrage at the continued recruitment of children and young people by the LTTE in the north and east. These incidents have been well documented by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Many complaints have been made to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. This is a gross violation of the basic rights of the people and cannot be countenanced at any cost. Given that even the most preliminary of talks should be about greater justice all round and the welfare of ordinary people, we demand that the immediate release of all abducted children and forcibly recruited people by the LTTE should be carried out without any delay. The issue of abduction and recruitment of children is a non-negotiable one and there can be no vacillation on the part of any government over this action of the LTTE. The lives and welfare of these children are precious. We demand that the Government of Sri Lanka take a clear stand on this matter. As people of this country we demand that the government and other concerned parties ensure the security and the welfare of the people of this country, particularly all communities in the north and east, and that there should be no compromise on the issue of democracy and justice to all within any of the terms to be negotiated. We can no longer watch in silence and complicity! The signatories included: Dr Dharmasena Pathiraja (Film Director and University of Colombo), Prof Ranjith Amarasinghe (University of Peradeniya), Prof S. Thillainathan (University of Peradeniya), Prof Gamini Keerawella (University of Peradeniya), Dr. Sumathy Sivamohan (University of Peradeniya and Alliance for Peace and Integration), S. M. L. Marikkar (University of Peradeniya), Professor Jayantha Seneviratne (University of Kelaniya and Alliance for Peace and Integration), Ramani Muttetuwagama (Lawyer), Dr. Sumanasiri Liyanage (University of Peradeniya and Alliance for Peace and Integration), Dr. Sepali Kottegoda (Women and Media), Dr. Keshani Soysa (University of Peradeniya), Prasanna Perera (University of Peradeniya), Piyanjali de Zoysa (University of Colombo), Rita Liyanage (University of Peradeniya), F. R. Sally (Researcher), V. Tharmadashan (University of Peradeniya), Buddhi Prabha Pathirana (University of Peradeniya), M. P. Jayathilake (University of Peradeniya), R. Maheshwaran (University of Peradeniya), Chandrika Maliyagoda (University of Peradeniya), Neloufer de Mel (Univ. of Colombo), Dhammika S. Kumara, Dinali Fernando (Univ. of Sri Jayawardenepura), Ann Abeywardene, Kusana Manjusri, Lakmali Gunawardene, Eva Ranaweera (Voice of Women), K. K. Mali (Voice of Women) Mala Dassanayake (Voice of Women), Uditha Senanyake, Lionel Guruge, Sanjana Hattotuwe. |
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