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The need for effective safeguards

Besides the undisputably positive atmosphere which has been generated in the country through the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and the stopping of armed hostilities, the people are likely to be happy over the fact that a robust public debate has sprung-up over ways and means of protecting and increasing the plusses and reducing the minuses in the peace effort.

While the outright cynical rejection of the peace process in some quarters has to be decried, constructive approaches to resolving some of the issues which have arisen, should be widely welcomed and looked at closely.

Indeed, it is a favourable development that the atmosphere has been created for the airing and clarifying of misgivings and reservations about some principal provisions in the Memorandum of Understanding. It will be in the national interest to have all such doubts and reservations discussed and defused early before the agreement is proceeded with any further. This will help in establishing a national consensus on the agreement.

Besides, it will ensure the effectiveness of the agreement.

It is encouraging to note that some Left parties such as the LSSP, are preferring to adopt an open-minded approach to the agreement, rather than oppose it mindlessly in consideration of petty political gain.

In a recent statement, the LSSP calls for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee, chaired by the Leader of the Opposition, to monitor the ceasefire agreement.

It also calls for a National Commission representative of political parties, to decide on matters concerning the implementation of the accord.

An obvious reaction to these suggestions is that there could be much duplication of work, if they are adopted as they are and acted on, now that arrangements are in place to instal monitoring mechanisms involving international participation. However, if the peace process is to be proceeded with in a constructive, democratic spirit, these proposals should be looked at closely by the State.

They should, perhaps, be looked upon as inputs which could help in making the monitoring process more transparent and accountable to the people of this country. The proposals should be also considered a springboard for greater democratic consultation on the peace process. The ideas could be fine-honed and used following, wide-ranging discussions among all shades of political opinion.

There are understandable fears and misgivings on some provisions in the agreement and it is best that these issues are addressed and resolved right away. Principal among these is the ability of the Lankan law enforcers to check possible LTTE arms smuggling on the high seas. The LSSP's ideas should be used as a basis to strengthen the safeguards in the Agreement against such violations of the terms of the peace process.

• Editorial of  The Observer - 28.02.2002:
  Till we meet again
  

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