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| Sunday, 30 October 2005 |
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Editor, Sunday Observer. E-mail: [email protected] Snail mail : Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 11 2429239 / 2331181 Fax : 94 11 2429230 A welcome call As published elsewhere in our issue today, TULF President V. Anandasangaree has made a call to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe, two main contestants for Presidency to arrive at a consensus on a federal solution to the National Question. Anandasangaree is no Tiger. He is an experienced politician with roots among the Tamil community. It was reported sometime ago that the Hela Urumaya even offered to nominate him to Parliament. There is no doubt that he should be heard and taken seriously. Unfortunately federalism has become a dirty word to one section of the ethnic divide just as unitary state has become the same on the other side. When the federal idea was proposed by the Federal Party initially it amounted to something less than the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which is already law. It is sad that religious and racial fanatics misled the people and blackmailed those in power to sabotage each solution proposed to solve the ethnic question throughout history. What is most unfortunate is that even after two decades of war politicians in the South continue to raise the spectre of a divided country whenever a solution is proposed. The division of the country could be best avoided by arriving at an amicable solution through negotiations. Further, the international community has already pledged to respect the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and anyone attempting to disrupt it would earn their wrath and reaction. A democratic solution to the National Question coupled with a wise foreign policy could achieve an undivided Sri Lanka much better than any military solution. Actually there is no military solution possible. It is necessary to view things more dispassionately and rationally. Ranil Wickremesinghe says that he is for a federal solution but has not outlined what type of federalism he proposes. Judging by his past record in office one could surmise that he is still clueless, as the UNP has never dared to spell out a detailed program of devolution. On the other hand Mahinda Rajapakse though clinging on to the unitary state promises to devolve power to the maximum. He seeks to build a broader consensus in the South for devolution. The unitary state in Sri Lanka has no history beyond the British rule. It was established by the British colonisers to suit their colonial ambitions. It is not sacrosanct, as some would want us to believe. The truth is that in the modern world unitary states have taken several federal features as in the United Kingdom or federal States have retained several unitary features as in India. States tend to be hybrid in character rather than be purely federal or purely unitary. What is best for Sri Lanka is to stop being dogmatically clinging on to concepts that have been misrepresented and misread by the people and start working towards a national consensus with an open mind. What is required is neither the continuation of the status quo nor the copying of state structures in other countries but the working out of a Sri Lankan model of a state that accommodates and respects the aspirations and interests of all countries. The draft Constitution 2000 could be the initial point of departure. A solution would need compromises and intransigence in whatever quarter will only obstruct a solution. Whatever rhetoric is used in the election platforms let us hope that the two main contenders for the Presidency would seek a common coordinated approach to a solution and would endeavour to obtain maximum consensus in the South before engaging the LTTE in negotiations. As the latter has already stated it would be a guarantee that whatever solution agreed upon would be practically implemented. **** Man's folly Natural calamities tend to increase their intensity, ferocity and frequency. It was only in December 2004 that we witnessed the ferocious tsunami that hit three continents and killed nearly 200, 000 persons beside s destroying land and buildings. The hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States with unprecedented ferocity. The recent South Asian earthquake has taken a toll of nearly 50,000 lives and many more deaths are likely in view of worsening weather. New diseases threaten humanity. HIV-AIDS is already devouring the continent of Africa and elsewhere. SARS took its toll earlier and the latest threat comes from pandemic avian flu whose death toll may be in millions according to experts. Global warming may inundate and wipe out entire countries and cities. Is this God's wrath or a result of man's own folly? We believe it is the latter for man has arrogantly disturbed the ecological balance of our planet. What more he is still doing so. In this the world's poor are the worst hit whereas the rich and rich countries simply ignore the threat. If ecological disaster is to be averted a New World Order is an imperative need. |
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