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| Saturday, 18 January 2003 |
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Taking the peace process forward by Lynn Ockersz
One of the biggest positive outcomes of the peace process so far is the provision of substantial proof of the correctness in adopting the "Peace by peaceful means" approach to resolving our conflict. The cessation of hostilities, of course, doesn't imply the realisation of peace in the fullest sense of the word, but there is no disputing the fact that the current nearly one year long ceasefire has created the necessary moral climate for negotiations and their perpetuation. The cessation of the armed conflict and the resultant absence of bloodshed and bitterness has enabled the main parties to get together in an effort to resolve the problem. Under the earlier "Peace through war" approach this was not possible because the continuing armed hostilities created distrust and fierce animosity among the central figures to the conflict. "Peace talks" were not possible amid the cruelties and barbarity of war. Today, negotiations are possible because the cessation of hostilities has eliminated bloodshed and strife and to a degree wiped out distrust between the Government and the LTTE. Accordingly, the ceasefire agreement has proved a vitally important confidence-building measure between the main parties. At the policy-positional level, of course, some of the most positive developments over the past few months of GoSL-LTTE negotiations have been the Government's mooting of a restructuring of the Lankan State on federal principles and the LTTE's acceptance of "internal self-determination" and regional autonomy instead of secessionism and Eelam. The latter has also indicated that it wouldn't be resorting to armed hostilities. There is also unprecedented, cooperation between the GoSL and LTTE in bringing normality to the North-East through meeting the civilian populations humanitarian needs. Bodies have been set up to speed-up the collaborative effort between the Government and the LTTE and chief among these is the GoSL-LTTE sub committee in meeting the humanitarian and rehabilitation needs of the North-East populace. the around one million refugees displaced by the war, currently scattered around the globe, are being encouraged to return to the country. Their needs will be met in a phased manner, with Internally Displaced Persons being rehabilitated first. Another prominent, unprecedented feature of Lanka's current peace effort is the high international backing it is receiving. The Oslo Peace Support Conference held late last year is one of the most cogent manifestations of this backing. Important international players such as the US, Great Britain, Japan and the EU are firmly behind the peace effort while foreign funds for the rebuilding of the North-East have not been slow in coming. A follow-up to the Oslo meet is expected to be held in Japan in June this year. While in certain respects, it could be said, therefore, that the peace effort has made unprecedented gains, all couldn't be said to be satisfactory on the political front in Southern Sri Lanka. A crucial factor in the success of the peace effort would be the achieving of a national consensus on an emerging political solution and getting all important sections of Southern opinion to endorse such a peace formula is an urgent, present challenge. The perennial tendency of sections of the political opposition in the South to engage in opportunistic politics, as some of them are already doing, could prove to be one of the biggest hurdles to a negotiated solution. While the opponents to the peace effort need to realise the futility of attempting to achieve short-term political gain by playing on the fears and anxieties of sections of the majority community, on account of the veritable self-perpetuating nature in this country of confrontational politics between the main Southern parties, the Government should explore means of getting the opposition to cooperate in its peace effort. In other words, the opposition should also be made a party to the peace effort and be enabled to share some responsibilities for its continuance. This will provide the impetus for opposition backing. Another urgent task for the Government is the raising of public-awareness on the finer issues in the peace effort. This is a vital endeavour for the success of the process, which we, in this newspaper, have been constantly drawing the Government's attention to. If the anti-peace propaganda is to be defeated the people should be constantly conscientized on the major issues in the negotiatory process and on the rationale and the aims of the peace endeavour. A knowledge vacuum among the people in this context could prove a dangerous thing. Although some security issues, such as the HSZs in the North, have proved contentious in negotiations, the deferring of these issues for later deliberations establishes the commitment of the Government and the LTTE to the peace process. Strengthening the process of reconciliation seems to be the priority right now. ################ Point and counterpoint : The 'absence of war' thesis I refer to the seemingly insignificant phrase, 'absence of war is not peace' in para - 5 of the rejoinder in 'response to 'history does not repeat itself' on page nine of the Daily News dated 10.01.2003. It sums up the present attitude of the opponents of the peace-process. The rejoinder quotes the President that "absence of war is not peace." But it does not define peace or war in their fullness in the correct context for the reader to see clearly what war and peace really meant for him and the President. To my thinking, with offence to none, the phrase is more a camouflage 'to hide than to reveal'. The war to all intents and purposes is the very negation of peace for the masses and the country. The war in this context, is a situation, packed with death, destruction and damnation of all life, human and animal, in all their forms with all matter, where it existed, between two parties using lethal weapons, military and armed forces. Peace, in a war related situation is the absolute security to all life and limb, men or matter, including everything in the place where it exists, from military and armed forces. In Sri Lanka, no war in the sense defined above is existing. If so the peace meaningful to the masses has also existed, without doubt, for all the 'metaphysical claims' of the rejoinder. If I remember right, it was peace i.e. freedom and security against war in any form, on either side using lethal weapons military or 'armed forces, the President and the whole country wanted and yearned for, before the election. That was peace devoid of death and destruction. A denial that such a situation exists in the country is indeed 'reductio absurdum' to say the least.I dismiss the rest of the article as a malicious apology for a clean-cut and revealing opposition to the peace process, to belittle the efforts of the Government in its laudable achievement for any Government during the past 20 years in Sri Lanka. Are the opponents of peace 'attempting to beat a track' to Hoodwink the peace loving people, to take them for a ride in the wilderness of a 'damned-war' to benefit the war-mongers by filling their purses. A fool-proof citizen, Ratnapura. ################ Idea forum : Towards a strategy in approaching peace The top priority aspiration of all communities in Sri Lanka is the attainment with dignity of peaceful conditions. The people have undergone untold privations during especially the last two decades. The approach to peace is doubtless beset with wheels within wheels. Despite adverse political currents and undercurrents encountered the executive President and the Prime Minister have jointly and severally produced considerable gains. However, of course, much remains to be done by them in the pursuance of the mission entrusted to them by the people at the last Presidential and general elections. The forced cohabitation in governance, which is necessarily implied by the electoral verdicts, has from time to time been floundering on account, of adverse circumstances of the unique situation. Whatever may have been the errors and omissions during the past one year, a sacred duty is irrevocably cast on the two key players, the President and the Prime Minister, to take the bull by the horns and accordingly to win the trust and confidence of the majority from both the Government and opposition benches to get the better of the political and other hurdles. A humane approach, which is free from petty partisan politics, has to be adopted: the two key leaders are quire mature in statesmanship with no eye to success at the next elections. Accordingly there should be no claim for political hero worship. It is indeed refreshing to observe that during the last five or six years there has emerged a common forum of the clergy and selfless leaders of the laity of Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, whereby meaningful participation has contributed to containing within manageable proportions the horrors of the conflict. At the same time credit is due to the responsible print and electronic media, which have taken much pain to bring to common platforms where in the political and other representatives of the people have contributed their share in the debates on the knotty points: they have done so in a decent and democratic manner. It augurs well in the new year 2003 that there should be further advances for achieving more rapport and empathy among the masses by their participation in such activities as religious ceremonies, pilgrimages, sports, drama, music, dancing and traditional Sri Lankan hospitality to firmly build trust and confidence in the peace process. Accordingly, there should be a tendency to wean especially the younger generations from being exposed to indiscipline and criminal acts. Efforts should be made for a considerable number of the population to acquire and/ or improve at least a bilingual (or trilingual) colloquial knowledge of practical Sinhala, Tamil and English to facilitate dialogue and understanding among one another of the ethnic and religious communities. It is appreciated that the Government and the private sectors have already taken action in this regard. It is suggested that the Ministry for the Mass Media should coordinate and streamline measures now prevalent. It is recommended that every newspaper and magazine in a particular language medium, should provide some space in its publications to carry lessons in the other two languages involved. That will certainly extend their circulation. It is also recommended that the Buddhist clergy and their learned laity should deliver more sermons and participate in discussions in the Tamil and English media. The other religious denominations are expected to reciprocate adequately in the Sinhala and English languages. There is much concern that the majority of the population in this country is suffering from economic hardships. The poverty alleviation measures taken by successive governments have not produced sufficient useful results. The poor become easy prey to temptations of bribery and corruption. There should be a long-term plan to raise living standards of the low income groups so that they will be able to stand on their feet without recourse to charity but to live with dignity and with responsibilities to the country. At the same time the super rich should act with responsibility to the fellow citizens without wasting scarce national resources. In sum, a confluence of cultures and the harnessing there of for consolidating the peace and prosperity, is indicated as an overall aim. - D. Kuruneru, Moratuwa ################ German-Sri Lankan intercultural performance A German-Sri Lankan intercultural performance was staged on January 6th at Bishop's College Auditorium, Colombo. Jointly staged by the Centre for Performing Arts (CPA) and Landvolk Theater Halsbach, Germany, the variety show entitled "Dream Box" included music, peace songs in English and German, dances showcasing both Sinhala and Tamil dance forms and drama performed by the ten member German troupe in collaboration with a talented group of CPA performers from various parts of the island. The performance celebrated cultural diversity. Special features included the performance of a wordless drama titled "Invisible Walls" which highlighted the need for mutual respect amongst all people for there to be a lasting peace. A highlight was the performance of "Black Theatre", an optical illusion technique performed by the Germans that has never before been seen in Sri Lanka that captivated the audience with its breathtaking beauty.The performers departed from Colombo for performances in Vavuniya and Jaffna before Landvolk Theater Halsbach returns to Germany. ################ Peace - be still Another Christmas -- and he was not at home. - Rose Aserappa ################ Peace Peace abides with love. - Jeannette Cabraal |
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Produced by Lake House |
With the GoSL-LTTE negotiations entering what seems to be a crucial
phase, it would be appropriate to cast a brief evaluative glance at what
the peace process has achieved in the main so far and to concisely
prefigure some important tasks for the future, the achieving of which
would prove vital for the sustenance of the peace endeavour.
