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Saturday, 26 January 2002  
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Towards a joint ceasefire

More than one month after the UNF Government came to power, the peace process seems to be developing largely, in unruffled fashion with the Government reciprocating the LTTE move of extending its unilateral ceasefire by another month, by a similar voluntary measure of its own.

What needs to be done now, as the Government realises, is to put in place a joint, structured ceasefire by it and the LTTE before February 24th, when the unilateral ceasefires are expected to come to an end.

At the moment such a joint, structured ceasefire is being put into shops through Norwegian mediation and LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham is being consulted for this purpose to obtain the views of the LTTE.

A conflict-free atmosphere would greatly facilitate the peace process, which is being evolved on a number of fronts and an urgent need is the consolidation of the ceasefire on a permanent and systematic basis. This will provide the ideal backdrop for the conduct of negotiations because it is our experience that continuing hostilities impact adversely on negotiations.

A ceasefire would prove effective to the extent to which the parties to the conflict agree to terms and conditions which would help make it a reality. This is, essentially, what is meant by a "structured" and systematized ceasefire arrangement.

For instance, it is important that the Government and the LTTE identify potential areas of conflict and disagreement and arrive at means which would help overcome them, in the process of operating the ceasefire.

One possible problem area is the movement of LTTE boats in the seas adjacent to Sri Lanka's North-East. As is well-known, clandestine LTTE arms shipments have been arriving in the war zone over the years. Such movements should end if a genuine ceasefire is to come into force. One condition for the continuance of the ceasefire should be the complete cessation of arms shipments to LTTE held areas. Ideally, Indo-Sri Lanka joint naval patrols should be conducted in the Palk Strait to reduce the possibility of these ceasefire terms being violated.

The Sri Lankan armed forces should also not be hindered from carrying out legitimate tasks conducive to the protection of the country's security.

These and many more issues should be aired and discussed by the parties to the conflict for the establishment of a fool-proof ceasefire. Terms of the ceasefire which would promote the legitimate interests of both parties are likely to win the approval of the public and eliminate the apprehensions aired in some quarters about the peace effort.

An undisrupted, permanent ceasefire which would be viewed as legitimate, is likely to create the necessary climate for the resolution of more contentious issues.


  • Editorial of  The Observer - 25.01.2002: Discipline
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