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Human rights and peace in Lanka

World Human Rights Day, which falls today, is likely to have a special poignance for all Lankans of goodwill who look forward to a future of peace, democracy and development.

This is the first Human Rights Day in decades which is being celebrated in this country in an environment of relative peace and calm, with the promise of Lanka's ethnic conflict being resolved looming large and gloriously. The time couldn't be more appropriate to think long and deep on this country's commitment to the realisation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - now an almost hallowed document among UN member states.

It may be extremely difficult to single out more than a few countries for their exemplary adherence to human rights and democratic practice, in the fullest sense of the term, but we in Sri Lanka ought to operate on the premise that human rights begin at home, although they don't stop there. If the past twenty years of war and bloodshed teach us one thing, it is that we have not been faultless adherents to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - the document containing the core values of democracy.

It could be said frankly, that "all the trouble" in post-independence Lanka began with efforts by sections of the political community to flagrantly violate and disrespect the rights of others. How sections of Lankans were deprived of franchize and language rights is now history. How the State in the past deviated from the principle of equity in spheres such as, education, employment and allocation of material resources, and how these practices impacted adversely on ethnic relations in particular, is also now well known.

Although this shameful past cannot be eradicated or forgotten we need to derive lessons from it, so that a new State which embodies the principle of multiethnicity could be made to rise Phoenix-like from the ashes of the past.

We have the assurances of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he is committed to "ensure that all our citizens enjoy the same democratic rights, the same guarantee to human rights and the Rule of Law, irrespective of where they live or the community or religion they belong to". These words which were enunciated by the Premier in Japan should be made the cornerstone of the future Lankan State which is struggling to be born out of the devastation of the past.

Speaking glibly of being committed to "peace" is one thing, detailing one's commitment to fundamental rights and obligations is another. Respect and reverence for "the other" is the basis of peace and this is the reason why the Universal Declaration of Human Rights could be considered a cornerstone of world peace. We wish more local political leaders would enunciate as unambiguously as the Prime Minister, what their stance is on fundamental rights.

Since we are now moving towards a renewed effort at nation-making, such declarations and verifiable follow-up actions are important. A new, federal Sri Lanka, embodying the principle of multiethnicity and not just pluralism, needs to be founded on a new constitution which enshrines the equality of all Lankans in all respects. There is no getting away from this principle, this time round.

At this juncture it is important to remember that we cannot remain content by merely embodying human rights in constitutions and doing nothing further. Abstract principles need to be lived and given flesh and blood in daily practice.

Closely allied to the new constitutional structure should be a peace culture which gives concrete expression to the virtue of respecting and caring for "the other". Unless and until, Lankans become closely knit in a bond of brotherhood and love, true peace is likely to elude us.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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