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Strengthening the peace process

One more condition for the resumption of the Norwegian Government's facilitatory role in the peace process seems to have been met with reports that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has written to the Norwegian Prime Minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik, requesting the latter to continue the Norwegian State's involvement in the conflict-resolution effort. Earlier, Lankan Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe had written to the Norwegian Prime Minister with the same request.

These moves come in the wake of reports that the Norwegian Government is willing to facilitate the peace process provided it was requested by both parties to the military conflict to do so. Reports that a Norwegian Government delegation would be meeting LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham, in London today, are further evidence of Norway's cooperative approach to the conflict.

Thus the initial indications are that the peace process is being resumed with a measure of vigour and optimism. Our hope is that the dynamism which has been thus infused into the process would continue.

In another positive move, the Government would be lifting the ban on goods to the North which couldn't be put to military purposes. These include commodities and medicines which are of direct relevance to the well being of the Tamil people. There is no doubt that these measures would relieve some of the hardships of the people and help in strengthening bonds of goodwill among the communities. The end result could be an atmosphere of cordiality and amity which could greatly facilitate the peace process.

A vital task for Norway would be to induce both sides to the conflict to initiate further confidence - building measures, on the basis of reciprocity and mutual accommodation. We could only be glad that the ceasefire has been holding thus far, but both sides to the conflict should realise the importance of establishing and strengthening mutual trust and acceptance.

One way of achieving this is for the main parties to the conflict to initiate and sustain further confidence-building measures. With time, a mechanism for the defusion of misunderstandings should be established between the Government and the LTTE. Both sides should also be wary of initiating moves which would be misunderstood by each other. A great deal of caution and diligence needs to be exercised by both the Government and the LTTE as well as the facilitator in this situation, to avoid spoiling factors which could generate mutual suspicion and doubt.

By appointing responsible persons, such as senior ministers to high-powered bodies overseeing the peace process, the UNF Government has avoided some pitfalls of the past but peace moves must continue to be strong and swift and be invested with great credibility.

It is also crucial that the transparency of peace efforts be maintained. The people should be kept informed of all major initiatives taken in this sphere to prevent opportunistic political forces from exploiting public ignorance for their selfish benefit. All this points to the fact that the mandate received on December 5th to end the conflict by peaceful, just means should be acted on quickly.

• Editorial of  The Observer - A test of reconciliation 03.01.2002:
  

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