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The spectre of political brinkmanship

If the country is on the look out for constructive, clear thinking on the issues of the day, from particularly opposition quarters, this doesn't seem to be on the cards. Take for instance recent JVP pronouncements on power devolution being an answer to the ethnic conflict.

While the broad position of the PA is that devolution is a feasible solution to the conflict, some JVP leaders were quoted as dismissing such claims as "mythical" and baseless. In fact, we are told that devolution is proving a big stumbling block to the shoring-up of a PA-JVP alliance.

If this is so, the question could be posed to the JVP: if power devolution is not the answer to the collective grievances of the Tamil community, what is? As far as we are aware, this issue is yet to be faced squarely by the JVP which instead, seems to have hit on the strategy of feverishly raking-up emotive issues, such as a perceived, imminent "break-up" of Sri Lanka. We see here an inability on the part of the JVP to provide rational answers to the questions confronting the country. Appealing to populist sentiments and emotion rather than reason has been their preferred tactic of building mass-scale support down the decades and one shouldn't be surprised if this approach is being adopted by the JVP this time around too.

Impressionable sections of the public may be swayed by this threadbare tactic, but the questions of the moment would remain unanswered with the country continuing to remain on tenterhooks in an uncomfortable "no war, no peace" situation.

Coupled with this whipping-up of a mass scale scare over what is seen as plans to dismember the land, the JVP also seems to be intent on playing on newly-induced fears of an LTTE military build-up around the Eastern sea port of Trincomalee. Unfortunately, the JVP has received sizeable support for this scare campaign from sections of the PA, including no less a person than former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

The latter had in fact sounded out some sections of the Indian political establishment some time back on this perceived military build-up in the East.

What is expected by these latter moves, is a cause for bafflement. Are they aimed at prejudicing the Indian State against the Lankan peace effort?

We do not intend to speculate on these issues but wish to point out to the concerned quarters that India has consistently expressed its support for a peaceful resolution of our conflict, based on the fulfilment of the legitimate aspirations of all communities of the country. Besides, the Lankan State is under no circumstances going to compromise the vital security interests of the country.

This, the Lankan security forces have already demonstrated in no uncertain terms. Just a couple of days ago, Premier Wickremesinghe warned against the exercising of "political expediency" by sections of the opposition. Commenting on this, we outlined the terrible costs of political parties resorting to this tactic down the decades. Is a repetition of history being desired? Our wish is that there shouldn't be any political brinkmanship at this juncture, which has a crucial bearing on the future of the country.

If sections of the opposition are agreed with the Government that power-sharing is a way out, the ideal scenario would be a fruitful meeting of minds on this issue between the two sides.

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