Saturday, 2 November 2002  
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Bringing stability to the East

Quite understandably and rightly, ensuring stable security in Eastern Sri Lanka is receiving top priority in Government - LTTE peace negotiations currently underway in Thailand. The risks involved in downplaying this dimension in the peace process are underscored, among other factors, by the present unrest in some parts of Colombo.

Fortunately, swift security measures by the State have defused to a considerable degree some of these tensions but the possibility exists of fresh friction breaking out under malefic incitement by those having a vested interest in ethnic discord and in an undermining of the peace process. Accordingly, the task at hand is to eliminate disaffection among the communities of the East by meeting their basic needs, including security and the right to livelihoods and habitations.

That these considerations are receiving the urgent attention of the negotiators is proved by the presence of the LTTE's Eastern Province commander, Karuna, at the talks. We reported yesterday that consideration is being given at the talks to evolving a framework to deal practically with ceasefire violations. Hopefully, these arrangements would result in the communities of the East, including the Muslims, enjoying an enhanced sense of security. More specifically, arrangements need to be in place to ensure that the citizens of the East, irrespective of race, religion and community, enjoy in full their fundamental rights. Nothing short of the ensuring of these conditions would guarantee peace and normalcy in the East.

The recent communal friction in the East and the simmering tensions in some population pockets in North Colombo are pointers to continuing disaffection among some sections of the principal communities inhabiting the East.

A principal condition for the establishment of a durable peace is total, united support for the peace effort by all sections of the people, including the main minority communities. This condition cannot be met if a principal party to the conflict perceives that it is being treated unjustly. This is the reason why the rectifying of Muslim grievances cannot be postponed. An early resolution of Muslim grievances, besides solidifying popular support for the peace process would greatly strengthen the arm of the Government.

However, it is also important to remember that the peace process must be given a chance. The working out of a solution which would ensure the rights and well being of all, requires time, patience and tact. There are no "quick fix" solutions in these situations. It must be remembered that the totality of Sri Lankans would stand to lose, and that too greatly, if the peace process is harmed.

It is, therefore, incumbent on community leaders, politicians and state agencies to ensure that peace prevails among all sections of the people. Particularly, volatile population segments must be made to realise the importance of practising patience and foresight. They must be also alerted to the fact that elements with hardly an iota of sympathy for their lot, would be seeking to egg them on to committing destructive acts for the advancing of extremist agendas. Accordingly, communities must be warned against falling for this costly lure.

Besides, governmental instability at this juncture wouldn't be in anyone's interest. Some sections of the opposition seem to be hungrily seeking instability for the sake of seizing governmental power by hook or by crook. While granting that every political party seeks power, it should be recognized that the people's mandate cannot be overruled. Besides, the critics of the Government need to convince the people that they not only possess a better program of work but could also do things better than the Government. On the latter considerations, the power seekers' case collapses.

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