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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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President labels peace opponents 'lunatics' Weekend Politics by Suraj and Viraj President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga last week quite correctly identified those opposed to the peace process as 'rogues' and 'lunatics'. The President, since the formation of her new government in April, spared no pains to see the kick-start of the stalled peace process.
Come what may, the President did not give up on the Norwegian role despite pressure being put on her by certain quarters. She was in constant contact with the Norwegians and with the LTTE through proper channels to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table. This week we saw Norwegian Special Envoy, Erik Solheim in town to work out plans for both sides. Solheim met LTTE leaders and then met President Kumaratunga on Thursday to convey the current stand of the LTTE regarding the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals. It is learnt that the LTTE has mellowed down its stand on the ISGA by conveying that the ISGA was negotiable. The President has told Solheim that she was disturbed by the violence perpetrated by the LTTE on political opponents and the armed forces despite the ceasefire in operation. The Tigers gunned down another EPDP activist in Kayts while it continued to abduct policemen and soldiers and even threaten wives of soldiers serving in the once battle areas. Solheim is reported to have agreed with the President on ceasefire violations committed by the LTTE in an isolated manner and has informed the President that the issue was taken up by him during his talks with LTTE Political Chief S. P. Tamilchelvan. The Tigers seem to have scant regard for the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) which comprises Scandinavians. The Tiger power seems to reign supreme over the SLMM with SLMM orders being completely ignored by the LTTE. President Kumaratunga has expressed grave concern about the LTTE attitude during her talks with Solheim. Detrimental comments The President is quite confident of getting her coalition government to work towards the resumption of the peace process. The LTTE has now indicated that it is willing to negotiate the ISGA. President Kumaratunga cautioned her government members a fortnight ago not to speak out of turn or make detrimental comments about the peace initiatives. She told the Government Group that she was handling the peace process and that she would brief them on the outcome. Then she announced an Advisory Council at national level on peace and added that the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader would co-chair the Council. She later met Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and stressed the necessity for Wickremesinghe to join the process to find peace. Wickremesinghe, in his usual style, held that he would consult his party before making a decision. Wickremesinghe earlier told his party men that there was a move by the President to set up a National Advisory Council for Peace to be co-chaired by him and the Prime Minister. The first to voice opinion was UNP Whip, Mahinda Samarasinghe who favoured the government move saying, otherwise, people would find fault with the UNP for not supporting the national cause. Wickremesinghe who listened to Samarasinghe had another opinion. He said the JVP was opposed to the ISGA and the government should get its house in order before the UNP decides on the issue. Wickremesinghe's stand seems to indicate that the UNP will not co-chair the Council proposed by the President. This will keep the UNP out of the process though its spokesman, Prof. G. L. Peiris time and again claims that the UNP will support the peace process if the government starts talks based on the ISGA. Political analysts say that the actions of the UNP towards the peace process should be seen in reality than in words at this crucial moment where Tigers have made a build-up to meet any emergency. They say that practical support of the UNP to the government for peace would strengthen the process and help to convince sections opposed towards the ISGA. The UNP leader should give priority for national issues and should take the hanging peace process more seriously while fighting the government on other issues on a separate platform. What the country needs today is serious and mutual understanding on national issues by leaders of all political parties who represent the people. Looking back, they could take lessons from the late Prime Ministers Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Dudley Senanayake with regard to the agreement and understanding reached between them on the issue of people of Indian origin in the plantations. Extremist approach An extremist approach towards the current national issue by certain sections seems an obstacle for the President to proceed further. The LTTE on the other hand is reported to be dictating to MPs in the Tamil National Alliance. TNA leader R. Sampanthan is an experienced moderate parliamentarian who has a political vision. He has understood that the adamant stand of the LTTE towards the ISGA was not going to help the process. At the last meeting in Wanni, it is learnt that Tiger leader Prabhakaran had severely warned moderate thinking MPs in the TNA that he would come down hard if they did not follow the path set out for them. Extremism towards the national cause from any quarter of the country should be condemned. The President is keen to ensure the rights not only of the minority communities, but also of the majority. The rights of the majority could only be assured through rapid development. The Tamil minority in the North and East have suffered for two decades due to the war. They have lost almost everything. Now a rebuilding and reconstruction process is on in those areas. The majority must recognise that peace could only be ensured through fair play irrespective of race. The extremist elements who oppose the peace initiatives of President Kumaratunga will never take up permanent residence in devastated areas of Chavakachcheri or Kilinochchi where there is a severe scarcity of basic amenities like drinking water. They only demonstrate in Colombo, making the issue more complicated. The UNP leader should leave the problem of tackling the JVP on the ISGA to President Kumaratunga. The JVP is a coalition partner under the President. If Ranil Wickremesinghe extends his hand of support in a practical manner by co-chairing the National Advisory Council on Peace, it will not only strengthen the peace process, but also the nation and its people. Then the people will decide on the fate of extremists who oppose peace in their beloved motherland. Mr. Wickremesinghe, it is your turn now to prove that you are a leader who puts the country before self. |
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