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Encouraging unity moves

The peace initiative launched by the UNF Government is likely to be further strengthened by a pledge made by President Kumaratunga to cooperate closely in the effort. "I will not sabotage the peace process," the President was quoted saying, thereby indicating her willingness to cooperate with the Government, besides proving the viability of the present exercise in political cohabitation where the UNF discharges responsibilities in governance in collaboration with the President.

Such cooperation between the major parties on the vital issues of the day is what the people hope for. A trouble-free working relationship between the different organs of Government would ensure the sustainability of the current UNF initiated peace process, which is enlisting the support and facilitation of the Norwegian Government once again. We could be glad that the realisation has dawned on the major political parties that efforts at resolving the national question should be taken out of the ambit of petty party politics. The ethnic conflict is a national issue and should be resolved on a bipartisan basis. Any attempt to deviate from this principle could only prolong the suffering of the people and bring national disaster.

The country is at a cross-roads. The current political equation forces on the major parties the need to unite for the sake of peace. If the PA decides to continue on the path of divisive politics, as indeed most parties in opposition have done to date, the chances are that another golden opportunity at peace-making will be allowed to go abegging. If, on the other hand, the PA understands the December 5th mandate correctly, it would collaborate heartily with the UNF Government in bringing peace to Sri Lanka.

The much-maligned 1978 constitution, we now find, has sprung on the country a blessing in disguise, that is, legislature and an Executive presidency, representing different but major political parties, who have no choice but to cooperate on outstanding issues or ensure continued political uncertainty and turbulence, coupled with economic stagnation. At the moment, the signs are that the former course has been chosen. May it be so in the future too.

As we have said before, a country which forgets the lessons of history is bound to repeat them. The aborted Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam pact and the Dudley-Chelvanayakam pact of the late Fifties and the early Sixties respectively, should warn political parties against engaging in opportunistic politics. The opportunity to contain the ethnic conflict was lost through such short-sightedness. Such blunders shouldn't be allowed to happen again and we are glad that the President has offered to cooperate with the Government.

Those political parties which are claiming to champion the interests of Sri Lanka need to remember that the national interest could be best served by cooperating to bring peace rather than by resorting to racial bigotry and divisive politics. They would do well to remember that peace comes from justice and justice from forgiveness.

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