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Unite for peace

That "double-speak" is coming very much to the fore in current opposition criticisms of the present, UNF-initiated peace process is plain to see. For instance, while expressing support for the peace process, some SLFP big wigs have taken wing to India to apparently drum-up opinion against the LTTE and what are seen as irregularities committed by it.

This move is reportedly based on the belief that India is wishing to distance itself from the current peace process. So it is apparently the thinking of these opposition politicoes that they could cash in on what they see as differences between the Indian and Lankan Governments on the peace process. Perceptions over the nature of the Indian delegation to the recent peace support conference in Oslo, are the initial trigger to this chain of events.

It must be said right away that India has never deviated from the position of supporting the current peace process in Sri Lanka. Whatever its perceptions of the LTTE may be, the Indian Government's stated policy is to back a just peace in Sri Lanka; a peace which would meet the legitimate aspirations of Sri Lanka's communities. Nor would India interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign neighbour. This is a prime tenet of its foreign policy. Considering these cardinal Indian principles, what the opposition members hope to achieve in India is difficult to perceive.

One other point which we hope to clarify right away is that the current peace process embodies the single most important aspiration of all Lankans. It is the principal wish of the people that the Government works towards a just peace with the LTTE. The people were compelled to repose their trust in the UNF for this purpose because the previous years did not produce any positive results in this regard. The peace process, in other words, is people-driven and is sustained by them. The peace process is not the possession of this or that party or this or that politician. Every government will be judged by the people on its ability to bring peace. In the final analysis, it is the people who are the initiators of the peace process.

Returning to the SLFP members' Indian visit, it is clear that this move is aimed at reviving in full the adversarial brand of politics for which this country is notorious. All too soon, the bitter lessons of the past have been forgotten. Short term political interests seem to be taking precedence over the national interest. Destabilization by any means seems to be the name of the game.

Needless to say, efforts to undermine the peace process and engage in double-talk would only take the country along a ruinous path once again. Only Sri Lankans, one and all, would be the losers and victims of these attempts by sections of the opposition to impede the peace process.

We call on the Government and the opposition to seek an accommodation on these issues. It is only a constructive engagement between the Government and the opposition which would deny any space for the revival of adversarial politics which have cost us so dearly.

There could be limitations in the present peace effort. These need to be ironed out as we proceed along the road to peace. We, however, do not believe any purpose would be served by any party attempting to rouse fears and anxieties among the people. For, any negative features in the peace process need to be resolved systematically.

If the opposition fails to respond constructively to the emerging challenges, the chances are that the savage competition for political power or the process we refer to as adversarial politics, would only continue. As long as this political culture remains there would be no peace for Sri Lanka. For, power politics only perpetuates itself.

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