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Forging ahead to peace

International acclaim for the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government and the LTTE rose several notches higher with the European Union and Italy joining the chorus of appreciation for this accord which has silenced the guns in the North-East.

They were preceded a few days back by important international players such as the UN Secretary General and the US, pledging their support for the agreement.

Rising international solidarity with Sri Lanka is a marked feature in this fresh initiative to realise peace. If one were to look for pronounced qualitative changes between previous peace processes and the current one, it is this marked rise in international interest in Sri Lanka and the unreserved backing by the world community for the bilateral cessation of hostilities agreement, which stand out.

These favourable international opinion trends point to the help of various kinds which would be readily forthcoming if permanent peace is established in the country.

We certainly would not be alone in our labours - this has to be borne in mind by the parties to the conflict, including the opposition. If we are wise, we wouldn't allow this phenomenal fund of goodwill from around the world to go a begging.

Certainly, the need to forge steadily ahead with the peace process should not compel us to turn a blind eye on seemingly ambiguous areas in the ceasefire agreement.

International acclaim is greatly appreciated, but it is the local actors to the conflict who know the ground realities best. It is they who are likely to have the deepest insight into areas in the accord which are likely to prove tricky in implementation. So, as we said yesterday, the broadest possible consultation process on the agreement needs to be launched to iron out what would seem to be grey areas in it.

President Kumaratunga, for instance, has raised some reservations about specified clauses in the accord and we believe these need to be addressed and ironed out in an accommodative spirit.

However, it should be also realised that the peace process cannot be held hostage to petty political considerations. If at all reservations are aired, they should be of substantial and crucial interest to the future of the country. Care should be taken to refrain from raising issues which spur populist but destructive sentiments.

For, it is clear that Sri Lanka would lose the fund of goodwill it has built internationally, if it is seen to be dragging its feet in the peace process.

The accord has to be subjected to scrutiny and its grey areas clarified to the satisfaction of all before it is implemented, but at no stage should the Lankan State be seen as baulking at the challenge of realising peace. In other words, the peace process should not be seen as running out of steam.

These considerations would be lost sight of by the critics of the accord only at the country's own peril. The world, we could say, is almost fully on our side at the moment. It wouldn't remain that way, if some local actors are seen as undermining the peace effort.

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