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| Sunday, 6 April 2003 |
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Military capability irrelevant for lasting peace - John Hume by Lalith Edrisinha Nobel Peace Laureate, Recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award, former Leader, Social Democratic and Labour Party of Northern Ireland and European Union Parliamentarian John Hume, despite the oppressive heat and a gruelling schedule was glad to grant this exclusive interview to the 'Sunday Observer' in the conference room at the Sri Lanka Institute for International Relations (SLIIR) at sundown on Friday shortly after addressing a packed audience at the invitation of inpact (initiative for political and conflict transformation) at the SLIIR auditorium.
John Hume known to have played the most significant role in pursuing peace in Northern Ireland is in Sri Lanka on his second visit to help in anyway he could to bring peace to Sri Lanka. The theme of his message is that there is no place for violence when people are divided. Only dialogue and peaceful means can lead to agreement through respect for differences and democracy and common interest in economic upliftment. Shed sweat not blood is his catchy clarion call to all Sri Lankans. Excerpts of the exclusive interview: Q: There is a difference of opinion over granting equal status to the protagonists at the negotiating table especially when on the one side is the elected government and on the other a group of insurgents who took up arms against the State. Do you think the objective of a permanent settlement of this conflict requires the equal recognition of both the Government and the Tamil leadership? A: Some parties are larger and others are smaller. That is the reality. So, bringing them together does not mean giving them equal rights. Talking to them does not mean giving them equal status, only recognising their role and that they have a role to play in reaching a lasting peace. Clearly it would be better if all parties are involved and meet at a major conference. Q: Do the contending parties have the same moral standing to abide by whatever agreements they have arrived at? A: Once an agreement has been reached and it has been approved at a Referendum by the people certainly all parties are morally bound not only to stand by it but also to implement it, which is true democracy. Q: Do the antagonists have the right to maintain their respective military strengths throughout protracted negotiations? A: No. All parties should declare that violence has no role to play. It only deepens the divisions. The only way to solve the problem is to reach agreement through peaceful means. Q: If the Government actively sustains its military capability while the LTTE is effectively blocked from doing so, will not this military imbalance upset the equilibrium which originally brought about the current peace momentum? A: If all sections of the people vote for the agreement then the Law and Order section of the Government - the police, the Army should represent all sections of the community. The objective is lasting peace, so military capability is irrelevant. No group shall have a private army. Q: Any comments on processes that parties follow to arrive at a political settlement. Is it imperative that their respective constituencies ratify the settlement? Very much so. There is no question of a top down arrangement. The people must approve the settlement at a Referendum. Q: According to the Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland can secede from the mainland on a popular vote. Any likelihood of this happening? Would a similar provision be important for a permanent solution in Sri Lanka? A: Secession of Northern Ireland will take place only if the majority want it to happen. As for Sri Lanka it is a matter for your parties to decide and above all your people. Q: What is the outcome of your talks with the LTTE? A: Positive. They were very interested in what I was saying. I met the Political Wing Leader Thamilchelvan and his group. They are very committed to achieving lasting peace and agreement. Q: Will you be making any recommendations to the Government in this regard? Or to the Norwegian facilitators? A: No. All parties that I met - the President, Prime Minister in fact everybody want lasting peace and agreement. Q: Your comments on child conscription and intimidation of members of rival groups by the LTTE. A: There should not be child conscription in any part of the world. And there has to be democracy in this entire thing. Q: Any special message in the context of the no-war situation in Sri Lanka as against the conflict in Iraq? A: These are two different situations. I would like to see no war anywhere and where there is danger of war - no war. The only victims of war are human beings. Over all, I would be pleased to give any help I could in bringing about peace to Sri Lanka. |
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