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A step at a time

It's only one more step, but it is, nevertheless, a step forward in a very important direction - towards a permanent peace and social reconciliation. Come this afternoon, the Government of Norway, in its capacity as facilitator, expects to receive both copies of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and will then announce the formal cease-fire.

If the first step in the renewed peace process occurred when the LTTE unilaterally declared a cease-fire and the Government reciprocated, an important second step occurred when the Government unilaterally took the initiative to ease security restrictions country-wide and lift the economic embargo against LTTE-held areas.

Given these confidence-building exercises, the cease-fire has held, on an ad hoc basis, for almost two months. The easing of hostilities was a catalyst for a burst of activity to further normalise civilian life in war-affected areas. It also created the environment and basis for moves to push the peace process further.

Today we expect to see the taking of a third step: the formalising of a stable 'cessation of hostilities' with the potential for this cessation to prevail in the long term. This third step, it is hoped, will enable further moves toward peace: preparations to begin formal political negotiations.

The process of formal political negotiations itself will be complex and long-drawn-out. How it will conclude is best left for future developments to indicate. Given the tragic uncertainties of the peace effort over more than a decade, more interim steps need to be taken before we dare speculate about future success.

Meanwhile the process is fraught with the danger of provocative actions, incidental minor confrontations, accidental violations, all of which could scuttle the whole process.

As Minister G. L. Peiris has been warning repeatedly, we must expect lapses in the cease-fire and respond to them in a way that the cease-fire itself does not collapse. Only perseverance and a determined commitment to the larger goals can take us forward.

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