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Say good-bye to politics of terror

Guns have fallen silent in the war zone with the LTTE declaring a ceasefire and the Government responding with a Cessation of Hostilities.

The war, as we have pointed out repeatedly, is the main fountain of politics of terror. It is the war that provides easy access to various types of weapons used by politicians to harass, intimidate and destroy their political opponents.

We call upon the government to use the lull in fighting to mobilize its resources to wipe out the politics of terror from the areas beyond the immediate theatre of war.

The best way to do is to expeditiously bring to book those responsible for violence in the run up to the General Election on December 5 and in the post-election period.

The Government has promised to end the culture of violence from the body politic. In fact, the Prime Minister in his first address after assuming office called for peace and reconciliation. The continuation of sporadic attacks on Opposition supporters in several areas even after it shows that his message has not gone to certain sections of the ruling party. These sections are actually doing a disservice to their party and the country through their acts of revenge.

We hope that all acts of political violence whether committed by the victors or the vanquished would end in the New Year that dawns tomorrow.

The success of the peace process that has been re-activated by the Government depends on consensual politics, first of all on a bi-partisan approach by the two principal parties.

Politics of terror would certainly hinder the peace efforts by preventing a consensus by the main parties in the South. It is time to say good-bye to politics of terror.

A week ago there was the disturbing news about the return of vigilantes. According to some weekend newspapers a clandestine group headed by a ruling party politico in the hills was holding in custody two suspects believed to be involved in the Udatalawinna killings, the most gruesome episode in the series of pre-election political violence.

While the mass killings at Udatalawinna should be condemned forthrightly and the perpetrators of the crime should be dealt with severely by law, it is no excuse for anyone, even the aggrieved, to take the law into their hands and inflict punishment on the suspects.

This gives rise to apprehensions whether certain elements are making use of the UNF victory to return to the practices of the late 80's when both insurgents and vigilantes held the public hostage by their acts of terror.

The Ministry of the Interior and the police department should immediately inquire into this alleged appearance of a vigilante group and take deterrent action.

It is most disturbing that none of the human rights groups had taken note of this development.

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