Archives

Moving forward to peace

United States Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca told a press conference in Colombo last Saturday that prospects for peace in Sri Lanka are better than ever before. Many would agree with the opinion expressed by our distinguished visitor.

However, much remains to be done to transform hope into reality. It requires more actors than the combatants who have given the guns a respite.

This does not lessen the burden on the signatories to the Ceasefire Agreement to ensure their total commitment to the Agreement. The Prime Minister had been repeatedly advising the armed forces to abide by the Agreement so that the other side too may find it difficult to breach it. The LTTE leaders have publicly announced their decision to punish offenders on their side, in case of breach of the ceasefire.

As seen in the developments of the past three weeks our international friends are also keeping a close eye on the observance of the ceasefire. This is not confined to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, which is now fully operational. The US issued a statement a few days ago calling upon the LTTE to observe the ceasefire in the wake of reports about extortions and child conscription that were reported from the East. There are signs that the US warning has been well taken.

The international community has a role to play in persuading both sides to honour the Agreement. Further, as the European Parliament has openly declared, they have to underwrite the Agreement with funding that could be channeled to the war zone to alleviate the suffering of the people. Such funding will help to build a more conducive atmosphere to proceed to substantive talks.

The international community is playing their role creditably. More and more states have come forward with aid to the North East, including refugee relief.

Internally, civil society organizations have taken initiatives on their own to strengthen the peace process. Notable among them is the initiative of the Sarvodaya Movement to link 100 villages in the North and East with an equal number of villages in the South.

Intellectuals and the clergy have also come forward to contribute their share.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of political parties. The PA, the main party in the Opposition has not made up its mind to back the peace process, although it has made several pronouncements declaring their support.

It should be noted that an essential pre-requisite for peace is a bi-partisan approach by the main parties, the UNF and the PA. Though the constitution has provided an ideal structure in the sense of a PA President and a UNF government there seems to be more friction than co-habitation.

It is the responsibility of both the President and the Prime Minister to evolve a joint mechanism to carry the peace process forward. Unfortunately, they seem to be drifting apart as open polemics has replaced responsible consultation and dialogue.

The present state could only help anti-peace forces. It is the duty of the President to distance herself from the JVP categorically and openly on the question of peace.

Similarly it would be na‹ve to believe that a lasting solution could be found without the active participation of the President and the large mass of PA supporters who are basically for peace.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager