|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 27 April 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Building trust not security - the priority People's Peace Front is a coalition of more than 140 peace organizations working in all parts of Sri Lanka. The coalition emphasizes the importance of setting all matters in a framework of negotiations. Our coalition openly expressed our agreement and the support for a Federal system which will pave the way for shared and self rule. It is our expectation that all communities should be involved in governance of the state. We condemn War as brutal, inhuman and as a non productive act, which can be initiated by any party. People's Peace Front is highly disturbed over the happenings during the past three weeks in the eastern province and to the entire peace process. Unrest in Muthur As we strongly believe that all communities of the country should be equally accepted and free to lead their own lives, we respect the identity and the dignity of minority communities. We observe that the Muslim community has been sidelined during the peace process and their genuine demands are ignored. This problem need to be immediately addressed by both the LTTE and the Government else it will create additional problems. Assurance for free living is vital for the Muslim community. Therefore, LTTE must not engage in any actions which will disturb the normal lifestyles of eastern Muslims. LTTE must set an example for future governance and guarantee for the sharing of power with the other minorities. It is the duty of the Government and the third party facilitators engaged with LTTE to bring Muslims also in to the peace process and ensure that normalcy returned in the Muslim dominated areas. Any ill-treatment towards any minority will create further conflicts. This must not be forgotten by LTTE as they also experienced the Pain of being a minority community. Peace at stake A recent statement issued by the LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham alarmed all peaces loving people of the country and the civil society and as a threat for peace. As we know all peace process has its ups and downs, but any breakdown will create suspicion and scare in the minds of the general public. Therefore we urge the LTTE to reassure their commitment for the Peace Process and issue a statement that they will not resort to Military actions. As a Civil Society organization we understand the necessity of equal participation and equal status for conflicting parties. We are concerned over the LTTE's position on equal status and as far as we are concerned that the Government of Sri Lanka have been able to provide equal status but failed to enforce it fully. We would like to remind the GOSL and LTTE that its not only they who came forward for peace but also many peace and civil society institutions unconditionally supported the peace process. Therefore it is important to consider and respect what the civil society has to say. We believe that we have a say on the peace process even though we were not directly involved with the peace process. There were many who died in support of peace in this country. The conflicting parties have to respect those lives. Therefore, we urge the LTTE and GOSL to return immediately to the negotiating table. Military demands and muzzling What we observed during the peace process is the lack of trust among the parties and we also believe that such trust cannot be built overnight. But conflicting parties must not involve in actions that would widen the existing gap of mistrust. Recent behaviour of both the parties signals that they are more keen on security instead of trust building. We urge the third party to formulate new strategies in trust building and bring the parties together. We also observe that the Government of Sri Lanka is more keen on economical gains through the peace process instead of trust building and reconciliation. Winning of the heart of southern people and engaging with non supportive forces are equally important as economical strengthening. For no reason should we depend on International military powers to solve our issues but make all efforts to solve inevitable disputes within the peace process. Finally as a civil society organization we would like to express that all we did for peace, we did with hopes of creating a harmonious situation and no power will succeed without the people's support. Lakshan Dias, D.A.D.N.C. Wimalaratne, Co-coordinators Milton A Perera, M.S. Selvendran, Jt.Secretaries People's Peace Front |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
