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Civil society peace initiatives

The peace process continues to move forward gathering momentum. Except for the JVP and the Sihala Urumaya none of the other political parties and groups have so far not conducted any significant campaign against it.

The PA seems to be confused but the President had reiterated her commitment to the Ceasefire Agreement. True, she has expressed a few concerns. We hope these concerns will be looked into.

The Maha Sangha has cautiously approved the ceasefire. Some have even become ardent supporters.

The traditional Left, in contrast to the JVP, has openly welcomed the Agreement and is engaged in a constructive dialogue with the Government. The categorical stand of the Left has undermined the campaign of the JVP and the latter seems to be appealing more to the chauvinist forces within the petty-bourgeois strata.

The ceasefire needs to be strengthened. At the same time, confidence between the two major communities, as well as that between the Tamils and the Muslims has to be strengthened.

In this respect, civil society initiatives go a long way towards achieving that objective. We are happy to note that civil society organizations are taking their own initiatives to strengthen the peace process. We commend, in particular, the initiative taken by the Sarvodaya Movement, one of the principal NGOs with extensive grassroots links throughout the country, to link 100 villages in the South with an equal number of villages in the North and East.

This program is worked out in coordination with leaders of all principal religions in the country so that it takes an inter-faith character.

The Southern villagers will constantly visit their sister villages in the North East and attend to the needs of the villagers by providing free labour and supplying required material to upgrade their living facilities.

People to people contact and the interchange of goods and services between the North and the South will cement a bond between the two estranged communities.

The desire of all people is to see an end to the war. Economic exchange will show them the value of peace and hence the peace constituency will grow. This, in turn, is expected to bring pressure on both combatants to seek a negotiated solution.

Silencing of guns is not the end of war. Only substantive negotiations on a negotiated settlement will pave the way for peace. It is the duty of all to help the combatants to move on to this next phase.

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