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Keeping the public informed

Prof. Minister G.L. Peiris' statement in Parliament on Tuesday, which came amid rising misperceptions and misapprehensions in some quarters on the peace process should have helped to put the record straight on a number of issues pertaining to the emerging MoU between the Government and the LTTE. Put simply, the factual position is that no final document has been brought out as yet on an agreement between the Government and the LTTE.

The Minister was responding to some allegations made on the peace process, by a member of the JVP, in parliament, which were apparently based on some misleading reports which were published in a weekend newspaper. The incident, among other things, underlines the need for the State to keep the public updated and informed about developments in the peace process. In the absence of such a process, the chances are that developments in the peace process would be misconstrued by interested sections and even subjected to mischievous interpretations.

As is well known, emotion very often clouds reason in debates and discussions pertaining to the ethnic issue. Those seeking to wreck the peace process are likely to resort to the expedient of fanning destructive emotions and irrationality on contentious questions in this debate. This has happened in the past and is likely to happen in the future. The events which greeted the 1987 Indo-Lanka peace accord are a case in point.

In the latter case, two lessons stand out. One is the need for the authorities to keep the people informed of efforts to end the conflict. The people need to know the nitty-gritty of what is being negotiated between the parties to the conflict. The second lesson is that the public needs to be educated in sustained fashion on the general, substantive issues that make up the national question. If the latter task is not carried out, the chances are that the people would be misled by interested parties. A glance at some of the posters sprouting in the city on the talks aimed at arriving at a permanent ceasefire, should convince the authorities of the need to launch this undertaking. A misinformation campaign on the peace process has got underway, going by the adverse propaganda material which could be seen while a vibrant campaign to educate the public on the substantive issues is yet to get off the ground.

Those seeking to undermine the peace process would be trying every trick in the bag to mislead the people. This may prove easy because of the contentious nature of the issues involved. The Government has done well to put the record straight in parliament this time round, but this process must be continued. The people should also be convinced of the rationale behind every crucial move that is made by the Government towards peace. There is no better strategy than to appeal to the consciences and minds of the public.

• Editorial of  The Observer - 20.02.2002: Using and abusing energy
  

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