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Direct links - a major development

The proposed establishment of direct communication links between Government and LTTE negotiators is likely to prove a vital catalyst in the acceleration of the peace process. Peace, it is said, begins with a smile among former adversaries. While this is undoubtedly true, the decision to communicate directly on the issues facing them, usually turns such antagonists into collaborators in the achievement of common goals. The Lankan peace process seems to have reached this stage.

In fact, it could be said that the peace process has come a long way within a short period of time. Right now, both sides seem to be in grave earnest in putting their heads together in finding durable peace and this is enabling joint peace-making to flourish. Direct, unmediated talks between the sides during the intervals between formal negotiations, besides enabling the sides to resolve problems that crop-up on a day-to-day basis, would strengthen mutual confidence and cooperation. The latter is the veritable mortar which stabilizes the peace edifice.

There is really no alternative to direct talks of this kind. An essential condition for the smooth conduct of the negotiatory process is the familiarization on the part of both sides, with each other's needs and anxieties. Direct talks, and that too among the chief negotiators, would amply fulfil this condition. Presuming that these factors are in place, it could be said with a considerable degree of certainty, that the peace effort would unfold without any major hitches for the foreseeable future.

These processes of communication are, in fact, very much part of the democratic ethos. As we have observed before, the lament in parts of the South over the past two decades was that the LTTE should join the democratic process. Hardline opinion was of the view that the LTTE's armed struggle should have been quashed militarily, unless and until it adopted the methods of democracy. Well, this has transpired now. The LTTE is part of the negotiatory process and should, therefore, be listened to with empathy.

The advocates of the democratic process and a democratic solution need to also bear in mind that now that the LTTE has chosen the path of negotiations, it has to be encouraged to be in it. Tough options may lie ahead. A suitable state structure has to be evolved to ensure the rights of all communities. It is because the existing structure doesn't meet this essential requirement that full blown insurrections erupted in Northern and Southern Sri Lanka. Accordingly, negotiations need to evolve in a direction which would ensure the minorities that their legitimate demands would be met. This, Southern opinion in particular, needs to come to grips with.

However, the opposition in some quarters, to the talks has apparently been oblivious to these needs. We certainly cannot get back to those bad old days when opportunistic politics were mindlessly engaged in by some sections of the South. This would amount to wrecking the peace process and proving convincingly that a political solution cannot be negotiated with the parties of the South.

Besides, the South would be seeking its own ruin by taking this destructive course. We hope those sections which are intent on criticising the peace process would take cognizance of these realities. If the intention is to remain engaged in adversarial politics, which has been our stumbling block over the years, we could be certain that there would never be peace for Sri Lanka. For, commonsense dictates that the major parties should form a consensus on at least issues of major national importance.

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