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PEACE QUEST

Opportunists exploiting interim administration issue

by Roger Gnanaindran

After more than two decades of acrimonious and bloody ethnic conflict, causing the loss of sixty thousand lives, damages to civilian as well as economic infrastructure and economic morass to the country, light at last seems to appear to end of a long dark tunnel. This dramatic change in the political environment is primarily due to the appearance of a pragmatic and sagacious politician in Sri Lankan political scene in the personality of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is now the Prime Minister.

During the course of the December 2001 general election campaign, Ranil Wickremesinghe openly campaigned for talks with the Tamil separatists known as the LTTE, and for devolution of power to the Tamils.

He was heading a coalition of political parties known as the United National Front (UNF), which coalition won a decisive victory at the polls which is indicative of the people's faith in the policies enunciated by Ranil Wickremesinghe. This was a de-facto mandate of approval for change granted by the majority of the people, whereas the coalition of political parties headed by President Kumaratunga, which was campaigning against any form of concession to the LTTE and therefore indirectly to the Tamils was thrown out of power.

The Prime Minister therefore rightly embarked in initiating the peace process with the LTTE, inviting the Norwegians as mediators. The rapidity with which the peace process took wings had surprised even the most optimists, to the chagrin of forces inimical to peace in the country. The basic lesson in a democracy is that the loser respects the will of the majority. Unfortunately, the coalition of political parties under the leadership of President Kumaratunga, which lost the confidence of the people, appears to be in no mood to accept the will of the majority.

The forces that have all along been inimical to the peace process with the LTTE have been playing the card of pan-Sinhalese nationalism. Unfortunately for them this did not create much enthusiasm among the people. The worst case scenario was the results of the Local government elections, which gave a crushing defeat to the coalition parties led by President Kumaratunga, which more than anything confirmed the verdict of the people given in the general elections. These dark forces were searching for something to hold on to and now their trump card appears to be the "Interim administration council" for the North and the East.

There have been a plethora of articles by columnists both in the Sinhalese as well as in the English media in Sri Lanka, analyzing the pros and cons of the interim administration council proposal for the North and the East. For those who are not aware of the geography of Sri Lanka, it is pertinent to mention that the north and the east constitute the regions where the preponderant majority in the north are the ethnic Tamils, while the east constitute all three ethnic groups the Tamils, Muslims and the Sinhalese. However, it is pertinent to mention that the great majority speaks the Tamil language as their mother tongue.

The majority of articles by most of the columnists are totally opposed to the establishment of the Interim administration mostly based on their figment of their imagination and not based on hard facts. The usual ethnic cry of Sinhalese nationalism seems to raise its ugly head once more. They talk of the threat to their language, their culture and religion by this interim administration. Some raise the bogey of Separation of State by this Interim administration and therefore oppose it vehemently.

However, President Kumaratunga and some in the Sinhalese intellectual community talk of settling the "hard core" issues with the LTTE, prior to granting the interim administration. Their view is that once the interim administration is granted, the LTTE will simply ignore the hardcore issues and carry on with the interim administration to the detriment of the majority Sinhalese.

The interim administration then becomes a de-facto separate state. This is far from the truth. The primary reason for all these imaginary fears and unfounded reasoning is that the two decade war had created two decades of mistrust between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils. So every issue is viewed not in its appropriate perspective but in the context of their political agenda which suits them best.

When peace talks commenced between the Kumaratunga regime and the LTTE, the latter was consistently harping on one thing and one thing alone, and that is the amelioration of the condition of the Tamil people as a result of the war, so as create a condition of normalcy, prior to talking on issues. The motive behind this idea is that, once the Tamil people who have been the victims are generally satisfied with their basics of leading a normal life there develops a feeling of accommodating opposite viewpoints from both sides.

In a harmonized environment there is much that could be achieved, than in an environment of continued bitterness and hatred. The weakness in the view that the hard core issues should be decided first and foremost is that hard core issues take a long time to discuss and solve. A problem that had eluded a solution for more than thirty-seven years cannot be solved in a jiffy. It takes time.

Furthermore, what the Tamils consider as hard core issues would be different from that of the Sinhalese and there is no convergence of thought on the hard core issues. This is a matter that needs very serious study and takes time to solve. What is most surprising is that President Kumaratunga herself had suggested the establishment of the interim administration in her previous failed attempt to parley peace with the LTTE, but opposing the very policy enunciated by her earlier.

In the hands of the Sinhalese nationalists and extremists, the interim administration under the control of the LTTE, for the north and the east proposed by the Government, had become a flogging horse to flog the government with. (Internet)

Co-existing in an ethnically diverse suburb

by Dhiraj Fernando

College never taught me much. But if there's one thing that stuck in my memory to this day were the words of my Social Studies master when he interrupted my nap with a bang on his desk as he emphasised the word; "Nothing"!..... "nothing ever remains the same, especially human minds," he continued, I rolled over and went back to sleep. However, for some unfathomable reason those words remained forever etched in my memory.

Thinking about it further; nothing `is' a constant, everything is in a state of flux. The greatest monuments crumble, the universe expands and people change along with time as they grow older and wiser or more obstinate.

Has twenty years of ethnic strife and the resultant suffering it has caused changed in any way the Sri Lankan psyche towards war and ethnic animosity? Are we as a nation ready to live side by side in peaceful co-existence as we did before the cataclysm that was `1983'?

Leaving naivete aside, the average Jaffna Tamil civilian, either refugee or citizen, have preferred the traditional enclaves of the Wellawatte and Bambalapitiya region to other parts of Colombo, with the majority of them settling in demographic concentric circles with this specific area as its apex.

Due to these reasons I decided to concentrate my search for the answer to the question of how the ethnic majority feel about North-Eastern migrants taking up residence in the more 'unsettled' region of Mount Lavinia, for Mount Lavinia, in many ways is an ideal suburban stretch that has houses either for rent or outright sale in abundance.

In my search for the truth of whether there is a level of anxiety, fear, hatred or mere uneasiness by the majority at the increasing number of migrants settling in the aforementioned area, what I found was not quite reassuring in certain aspects, but then again assuring in others.

It was late evening and I was walking down a street that had a more affluent setting to it than the others I had passed, I introduced myself to a man washing his brand-new luxury vehicle in his driveway and acquainted him with my objective. Speaking with regard to the question of North-East migrants settling in that area and down his street in particular, he said; "I have lived here since I was just two years old, I have a wife and two daughters, both teenagers. I'm 39 yrs old now, but I still have absolutely no idea how many Tamil families live down this street at present, much less those from other minority groups."There was one family that had its house burned down further down our street but I didn't get involved. In fact, I couldn't care less as to the number of new residents moving in as neighbours as long as we are not overwhelmed, if you know what I mean," he said.

Noticing his brand-new car and recently and expensively refurbished house, I asked him what he did for a living.

He was a trader in garments. "I have one shop in the heart of Wellawatte and another in Bambalapitiya.

I too have felt the increase in the level of competition in my business and it could be due to the increase in these migrants many of them who are involved in the trade. As for the peace talks, I'm all for it. I hope it succeeds in every aspect."

Another lady whom I spoke to, was a 30 yr old secretary working in a mercantile firm in Colombo. She said that she had indeed noticed an increase in migrant families down her street but that she had no displeasure nor animosity towards them though few people seem to have much interaction with them other than they amongst themselves.

When asked how she felt about the peace talks, she said, "I am all for the talks and the attempts of Prime Minister, Ranil Wicremesinghe in his attempts to solve the issue, however, I am mistrustful of Mr. Prabhakaran in that regard.

As I moved among varied social backgrounds, I noticed a marked attitudinal shift in thinking with the more affluent classes displaying a far greater degree of cohesiveness and acceptance towards the migrants than in the socially deprived areas. One may perceive this as being due to a misconceived economic threat being felt among them.

However, there were abundant voices of reason to be heard.The overall impression I got from speaking to the dozens of persons spoken to was that the majority of residents whose lives would be affected directly by the migrants choosing to settle amongst them did not resent the fact.

One sensed that a large percentage of the opinions expressed were reliant on the outcome of the peace process and the various twists and turns it takes along its convoluted path.

It must be stated that such an impromptu survey does not do real justice to the complex and alternately subtle emotional cauldron that constitutes Sri Lankan's shifting urban patterns. A more comprehensive study of the problem should be launched utilising the resources of the relevant ministries or NGOs as a suitable adjunct to the efforts of the government in achieving peace.

Conditions "not conducive for refugees' return" - UNHCR

Despite the voluntary return of 71,000 internally displaced people (IDP) to their homes this year, the United Nations' leading refugee agency maintains that "conditions in Sri Lanka are not yet conducive to promote or facilitate large scale, organised (displaced people's) return or repatriation of refugees," a UN working group said this week. The report said that major concerns remain regarding the risk of landmines and unexploded ordinance in both actual and potential areas of return.

The UN's High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) "is monitoring closely the situation of spontaneous returns to ensure that they occur voluntarily, with safety and dignity," the UN's IDP working group said in its weekly bulletin.

More than 71,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) or roughly 14,200 families have returned to their homes since the beginning of the year in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, the report said. More than 35,000 returnees in Jaffna district account for nearly half the total.

"Precise week-by-week figures are not available, but indications are that the magnitude of return has clearly increased since the Feb. 23 cease-fire agreement," the report said. Despite the UNHCR having "reservations about promotion or facilitation for large-scale, organised repatriation at this state" the agency has agreed to assist in the return of 16 extremely vulnerable refugees from South Indian camps for pressing humanitarian reasons, the report added.

Modalities of repatriation, as well as the level of assistance the government can provide, are two of the topics to be discussed at a meeting on voluntary repatriation that UNHCR is scheduling with the relevant government authorities.

More than 50 refugees crossed the Palk Straits in fishing boats from India to Mannar in April, the report said, adding that such spontaneous returns appear to be continuing.

The report says that the UNHCR's "primary responsibility with relation to mine-action issues within the current context is to identify priority areas of potential IDP and refugee return where de-mining and mine awareness activities are required." Tamil Net

Majoritarianism and the disruption of peace

by Afreeha Jawad

What if the whole idea of 'majority rules' never ever originated? Where would the global economy be? Where would the sprawling socio-political system be?

It is the stable positioning of the international power weilders and their replicas in the world communities that harness the benefits of the 'majority rules' concept - quite outdated and out of context amidst elevated thinking. The mere thought that 'majority will' should prevail is if not mind- boggling rather nauseating and breeds frustration and facilitates the disruption of peace.

Taken in the right spirit - certainly it could end up as a tolerant and accommodative bit of thinking where 'big brother' casts his benevolent eye on the 'younger one'.

But that's mere theory - the ground situation - a pack of contradictions. Fragile are the ways of men (no gender!) for in its implementation, majoritarianism is akin to male chauvinism though in the latter it is not a matter of numerics - a projection of 'feminine softness' only meant for household work and baby churning intended to facilitate men's productivity in factories for industrial capitalism propagation.

This country - certainly no exception to 'Democracy' with its accompanying ills could walk down the corridors of history and see the numerous instances that fumbled on this concept - the most glaring being the Sinhala only 'bill that shredded peace to pieces which even the Sinhalese admit bore more than partial responsibility in putting this country to a bloody cauldron. In subsequent years this concept was taken amiss at the expense of minority depression.Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe played it all very splendid recently addressing the media. Going not one step ahead but many leaps and giving a rather poignant punch to 'majority rules 'Mr Wickremesinghe even spoke of majority tyranny.

That majority tyranny would end in minority ravage - blood and all was least expected. But that was to be in the aftermath of 'democracy' based 'majority rules'. The Tamil minority was pushed to periphery end and driven up the wall through the 'majority willed ' decision of standardization in university admissions - what followed is blood stricken history.

That this concept has facilitated western quarters with vested interests over here in third world arena is quite apparent for it further divides indigenous communities while sustaining the first world for which the infamous divide and rule is operative.

Earlier what was the passive acceptance of 'majority decision' that over-rode minority aspirations and sentiments, in subsequent post modernist social movements, 'insurgencies', 'terrorism' and various 'conflicts' proved the rejection of the existing social order.

The marginalised populace belonging to low castes, the under class, the various ethnic groups, women and children are no longer docile observers of such imposed ideology but eager to come of their own and have their say in the system.

While this is micro situation, at macro level we see the third world being considered a minority group by the western nucleus from where such domineering concepts emanate. The third world are forced receivers of western majority will and are compelled to pay obeisance to western majoritarianism resulting in unfair trade, unfavourable international relations and biased world governance.

Within the 'first world's' satellite states are the representatives of international elitism stung with 'majority rules' mania. Anarchy is the end result.

Majority rule is nothing more than self furtherance and status quo pandering. In these states of fake existence are not only the worst violaters of truth but also disrupters of PEACE.

Tamil mine-clearers struggle without equipment, funds

The estimated 1.4 million pieces of live ammunition are taking a long time to clear due to the lack of equipment and funding, according to the official in-charge of clearing the unexploded ordnance.

Mr. Yogan, coordinator of the Humanitarian Landmine Clearance Section expressed his frustration at the lack of resources for a project that is holding up the rehabilitation of hundreds of thousands of people.

The landmine clearing work in LTTE controlled areas is currently being funded solely by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation, said Mr. Yogan. He noted that elsewhere in the world, such projects received support from United Nations agencies. "The lack of even basic equipment means my team has to ignore large areas, focusing only on the area identified for resettlement by refugees," Mr. Yogan noted.

An American team recently sent to carry out mine clearance has so far only worked in parts of Sarasalai where the Sri Lanka army is based and uninhabited by civilians. The Humanitarian Landmine Clearance Section has so far deactivated more than 134,000 mines, shells and other explosives in various areas across the north and east.

Despite the risk, people have resettled in some areas, such as Paappamottai, Periyamadu, Kaarisuttan, Paalampitty, Mullikkulam, Iranai Illuppaikulam and Pallamadu even though they are yet to be cleared. Many of these areas remain uncleared due to the lack of funds, Mr. Yogan points out. Tamil Net

The Dream of the Mothers of the North

Easy to price these brunt out villages and lands,
easy to build again these ruined houses,
for bricks and mortar come cheaper than before.
Easy to buy and sell peace wholesale
for we have purchased it from many lands,
Long years of practice have honed to perfection
the art of shedding real and crocodile tears
but the lessons that are difficult to learn
are those that tell of
how to end the sadness brought about by war

Look carefully at these ruins,
look at them brick by broken brick.
Here lives the debris of millions of human lives,
the live of our young children,
clipped before the buds could come to bloom.

Who can price these years of destroyed labour,
give life again to these broken corpses,
join again these shards of limbs that lie scattered?
Who can console the minds and hearts.

benumbed by war?
Who can reach the minds of our children,
those who are wish us now
and those who are yet to be born,
when they have been distorted
by the terror of war.

We have died, over and over again,
and been reborn.
We have wept and laughed
and wept again.
And now,
We don't need to weep together,
We want a world in which we may smile,
together.

- Seetha Ranjanee (Courtesy: 'Women in war time')

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