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DLF welcomes ceasefire agreement

The Democratic Left Front (DLF) welcomes the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE. It has been the consistent position of our party that there should first be a ceasefire before any further steps can be considered regarding the solution of the problem that has taken our country through a ruinous and senseless war for the last twenty years and more. The ceasefire has brought relief not only to the people of the North and East and the border villages but also to all our people all over the country. The feeling that there is no threat of a bomb attack or any other terrorists onslaught alone is a great relief to our people.

President Kumaratunga has been reported as being displeased that the agreement had not been shown to her prior to its signing. We do concede that a situation where the President and the government can cooperate in these matters is the most ideal. However to us what is of importance is not the final of showing the contents of the agreement to the President but whether we approve of the terms of the agreement or not. Her Excellency the President cannot be heard to say that she disagrees with the terms merely because they were not shown to her in time.

We can understand the opposition of communal groups like the Sihala Urumaya and their former president Mr. S. L. Gunesekere who have announced their intention of going before the Court of Appeal to annul this agreement. How easy it would have been to solve this problem if these gentlemen were only to obtain a Court order against the LTTE to stop this senseless war or may be what they need assistance from court is to continue the war!

The position of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna on this agreement is not easily understood. For though they oppose this agreement and also lament the fact that it had not been shown to Madam President in time they as a party claim to stand for equal rights for all nationalists in the country and also claim to fight for socialism. Theirs therefore is only a fraudulent attempt to exploit the problem in the North and East to their narrow advantage by resorting to communalist propaganda. This shows their political bankruptcy and their inability to appreciate that the people of our country are fed up with this senseless war. They appear to be preparing for another get together with the Chandrika/Mangala clique in the SLFP perhaps again on probation!

The Communist Party has not yet issued a statement on this matter. It is yet to be seen whether they will take an independent position or go along with the SLFP.

However the secretary of the LSSP Batty Weerakoon had distanced himself from the SLFP and Mrs. Kumaratunga and issued a statement calling for a positive attitude to the agreement. In our views this is most welcome and augurs well for the unity of the progressive forces that must rally together to defend the gains of this agreement and go forward to consolidate thereon.

We of the Democratic Left Front call upon all Left and Democratic forces and working class organisations such as Trade Unions and all other mass organisations to rally together to take the peace process forward to ensure a lasting solution acceptable to all the people of our country, states a Press release issued by Percy Wickremesekere, Secretary, and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, National Organiser.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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