Onus on the Tigers

The world is having ample testimony, once again, of the Lankan State's willingness to work out a negotiated settlement to the country's conflict. First, we have President Mahinda Rajapaksa's statement at the inauguration of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting on Tuesday that the LTTE should renounce terrorism, enter the negotiating process and help promote peace. A very emphatic call for a political settlement, indeed.

Next, we had Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella reiterating the State's willingness to work out a political settlement. He, however, said that the Government would not accept any preconditions for talks laid down by the Tigers.

Another significant observation by the Defence Spokesman was that the Government reserves the right to react to any issue when national security is at risk. It is plain that the recent military operations in the North, for example, are actions dictated by this rationale of defusing threats to national security.

Thirdly, we had a statement by Army Commander Sarath Fonseka that the Army is supportive of the Government's peace effort but would continue to battle terrorism. The Army Chief made it clear that what the Army is engaged in at present is defensive action against LTTE attacks.

It is therefore clear that the Lankan State is open to a negotiated solution to the conflict. The Government is by no means considering military action as its first or only alternative in working towards a settlement. However, it is duty-bound to protect the national interest and as long as the LTTE poses a threat to the State and the people, the State is obliged to take the Tigers to task militarily. It is a choice that is entirely forced on the State by the LTTE and not one which is eagerly sought by the Government and the Security Forces.

All this should not only be clear to the LTTE but the world community too. The choice is entirely the Tigers'. The blame is entirely theirs if military operations need to be conducted in the North-East. However, the situation in the North-East would take on a positive tonality if the Tigers re-approach the negotiating table.

The view is quite widespread that the Tigers call for negotiations only when they suffer major military setbacks. If this is true, it is a highly suicidal position to adopt by the LTTE. For, the Tigers should have realised by now that their terror only embroils them and the North-East in endemic conflict. The political history of contemporary Sri Lanka, from particularly 1983, should teach them this truth.

Therefore, if the LTTE means what it says when it claims that it is acting towards the betterment of the Tamil people, it would seize the opportunity provided by the State for a political settlement. A continued rejection of such opportunities would mean that the LTTE is not in the least concerned about the Tamil populace.

Likewise, the world community should prevail on the Tigers that they should seize this opportunity for a negotiated settlement. The Government's position is very unambiguous and clear. It is not for war as a first option. Its first preference is for a political settlement. No less a person than President Mahinda Rajapaksa has spoken out clearly on the need for a political settlement.

It follows, then, that the international community needs to bring pressure on the Tigers to enter the negotiatory process. We say this because the Co-Chairs have just met in Brussels and deliberated on the Lankan situation. The Lankan State is going the extra mile for the sake of peace. The Tigers need to be persuaded to do so too.

The LTTE must be compelled to talk straight on this question. There could be no doublespeak or tongue-in-cheek.

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