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Peace Quest

Issues in the peace process - The public speak out

by Rashomi Silva

The Daily News sounded out a wide cross-section of local society on their impressions of the latest rounds of GOSL-LTTE negotiations. Given below are some of their responses:

S. Balakrishnan, Programme Director, National Peace Council:

the silent wait for normalcy

I feel the peace process is progressing quite satisfactorily. Both the Government and the LTTE seem to be adopting a pragmatically flexible approach. And seem to be moving towards a consensual approach. We were told by the foreign media that the last round of peace talks was not as smooth as the previous occasions. However that is to be expected when dealing with sensitive issues such as resettlement in High Security Zones (HSZ). Getting the services of Gen. Sathish Nambiar, a senior UN figure to review the HSZ issue can be considered as a wise move. When looked at from the point of view of the displaced, they have the right to be resettled in their original places, and on the other hand compromising the security of the parties is also not desirable. As the situation stands the services of an expert are needed.

The Government should not have allowed the LTTE and the Army to issue statements on the HSZ question that led to undesirable repercussions.

It is not expected from the Government to disclose all that took place at the table, but they should be more transparent, at least the decisions taken at the table and the implementation should be done with a greater degree of transparency. By and large the transparency is satisfactory, even though there is room for improvement. If a sustainable peace is to be achieved the participation of the opposition is a must. We definitely see an improvement. But the Government should seriously consider engaging more active participation of the opposition and the civil organisations.

Prof. M. S. Mookiah of Eastern University: I am very happy with the progress of the peace process. The opposition too after they are briefed on the progress seem to be happy about the developments. Therefore it is evident that the major Sinhala political parties are backing the peace process.

It is difficult to have 100 percent transparency in this type of negotiation, at this stage. However the public should be well informed on principles on which the negotiations were based on and on policy implementation. Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera: I am not happy at the recent developments in the peace process. Any civilised man would find solutions for his problems through negotiations, no doubt. The Government and the LTTE signed a MoU almost a year ago. But according to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) the LTTE have made 500 odd ceasefire violations, since then. They are collecting ransom, recruiting child soldiers and abducting people. Considering the rate at which all these unpleasant things are taking place I believe the LTTE will soon repeat their history.

Rev. Father Oswald Ferth of the National Peace Movement:

So far I am happy with the progress of the peace process. And I am also happy that there are criticisms of the peace process as well for that will lead the Government to be cautious when proceeding with the peace effort.

The LTTE have dropped their demand for a separate state and that is a big achievement. The negotiators should be able to come to a solution that will satisfy the aspirations of the minorities as well as the Sinhala majority. Whatever the solution, it should be in an united country.

I believe the people have every right to be well informed on the negotiations and the major decisions arrived at. And an opposition representation is desirable. The opposition leader who is backing the peace process while criticising it in a constructive manner will make a good representative. I should also feel civil society should be given a fair share of representation.

Joseph Thavarajah (37), research manager attached to an NGO: I would say all in all the progress of the peace process is satisfactory. But there are shortcomings. Especially as far as transparency is concerned. We do not ask the Government to repeat to the public all that transpired at the table, however more transparency is called for.

The role played by the Norwegian facilitators is admirable. Specially the effort they put to bring the LTTE to accept a federal solution at a stage when they were stubbornly demanding a separate state is admirable.

However the way they handled the issue of the radio transmitter is questionable and even if the issue is not as important as they claim the lack of transparency in the whole affair raises a question mark.

This is not a stage to search for a fresh mediator after what they have done for peace in the country. They have the required degree of diplomacy and the tactfulness. What I personally feel is that they as well as the LTTE and the Government should be more transparent to get something substantial from the peace process. It is still too premature to say anything on the Government's flexibility.

There should be a broader spectrum of representation at the negotiating table. The Government seems to be entertaining fears of undesirable repercussions if representation is given to the opposition. I should say that there is some ground for that, considering the petty politics the country is witnessing. However that is not an excuse to exclude them (opposition) from the table. A fair share of representation given to religious dignitaries, civil organisations, NGOs, would be a welcoming change.

Senani, 27 year old graduate employed in the State sector: The war brought nothing but misery and grief for both sides. Therefore even if the talks break down at any stage war should not be considered as an acceptable alternative.

Now there is too much pressure on the LTTE by the international community especially by powerful nations such as America and Britain, and even the United Nations is keeping a sharp eye on the behaviour of the LTTE.

Therefore, the possibility of another outbreak of war is less. We must not be too sceptical and we cannot compare the previous efforts with the ongoing peace process.

There are marked differences between the present peace effort and previous attempts, where we did not have the service of a facilitator. There were several questionable incidents in the course of facilitation and I am of the view that they are too flexible towards LTTE demands and they have taken a biased approach. However we must not forget that the success of the peace process is largely their work.

The only shortcoming I see in the process is that the Government is sometimes too flexible and the LTTE although not as adamant as they used to be, there is room for improvement.

Whatever the solution evolved it should be within an united country. The federal system adopted by the India or Germany amended to fit the country's needs would be ideal, but the Government negotiators at any cost should not agree on a confederal system.

Even though Norway is somewhat biased, they may have performed better than any other mediator; we must not forget that they have laboured hard for the cause.

Nishantha, 32 year-old merchant in Fort: "There is no transparency in the whole process. Even when the President asked for representation by her party that was not allowed. We all want peace but not at any cost. We do not doubt the intentions of the Government. The LTTE will resume war very soon if they cannot get what they want from the negotiating table.

Their troops and weapon strength is stronger than an year ago. Government should ask them to put down arms; if the Government keeps on giving into their every demand, we will not have peace. The Norwegian facilitators seem to be playing the role of a LTTE spokesperson.

Dr. Selvi, Director Women's Education and Research Centre.

I have no strong objection to the way the peace process has been carried out so far. I see that there is a lack of transparency in the whole process. Nevertheless the situation seems to be getting better. It is very important that the President is made an integral part of the peace process.

This truce I see as the most successful peace effort since the conflict broke out. For the first time we have the services of a facilitator and the truce holds on despite minor violations by the parties.

However the issue of the human rights violations by the parties has to be addressed more efficiently.

The facilitators should be more transparent. An efficient mechanism should be introduced to intervene and to minimise ceasefire violations.

The negotiating table needs a wider representation. Opposition representatives, religious dignitaries, NGOs, and civil society should be given a chance of representation.

I appreciate the decision taken to appoint a sub committee for women. And I am also happy about the nominees from the Government, but upto now we do not know who the LTTE representatives are. It shows the LTTE lacks transparency.

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Defusing the landmine horror

by Afreeha Jawad

A child landmine victim

"Our family is so poor. One day when we were very hungry we wanted to help mum and dad. So we went out to find food. I stood on a landmine and injured my leg and eye. My brother ran to fetch water to clean my eye and stood on another landmine. It exploded and killed my two brothers. I started to crawl out of the field to tell my parents when a neighbour saw me and rushed me to the hospital where they cut my leg."

This is the gruesome tale of Phan, a little Cambodian landmine survivor.

That man, the creator of landmines with its accompanying destruction of much valued life could also embark on its elimination risking one's own life certainly baffles this writer - perhaps the best in him and the worst in him - a sort of Dog/God state. A disfigured face, loss of limb, eye and perhaps even life are the dangers and high risks a deminer is prone to - the commonality not too distant from that of a landmine victim. Posing severe threat to the global citizenry, landmines have emerged as a great, if not greater threat - far worse than war itself - its clearance - a gigantic task even 50 years past warring times.

So, in 1992 well over a thousand NGOs comprising deminers scattered in different parts of the world assembled and activated themselves against stockpiles and trade of anti-personnel mines.

Calling themselves the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), they operate in over 90 countries but significantly without any headquarters.

Mary Wareham, chief of ICBL's research projects - when asked how an international body could function that way said:

"Well, that's just to avoid people from passing on responsibility to the headquarters. That sort of 'why should I do it, its headquarters business' attitude is eliminated. All ICBL members are on the move no matter where they are. This is something unique to ICBL.'

The treaty banning landmines came in 1997 during which time the campaign was in Europe, North America, parts of Africa and Asia.

The campaign committed to an international ban on the use, production, stock piling and sale, transfer or export of anti-personnel landmines also calls for accessions, ratification and implementation of the 1997 mine ban treaty, increased resources for demining and mine awareness programs, increased resources for landmine victims' rehabilitation and assistance.

To date 146 countries have signed the treaty while 130 have ratified it.

In 1997 ICBL was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize which monies helped open an ICBL bank account for the first time, according to Wareham. ICBL is also funded by pro ban governments - signatories to the treaty. At the recent meeting of Asia, Pacific Landmine Researchers at Bible House Colombo when Minister Jayalath Jayawardane was requested to sign the treaty he said if the LTTE was ready, the Sri Lankan Government was all the more willing.

But Wareham holds a different view. "Lead by example and don't wait for the other side. Assume a good leadership morally by doing the right thing."

Mary Wareham (right) with her colleague Elizabeth Bernstein

ICBL an NGO coalition is helpless in treaty signing as only governments could do so. The Sri Lanka Peace Foundation joined in 1997. All that ICBL could do is encourage governments to sign on the dotted line. Unexploded weaponry such as grenades, mines and mortar rounds are children's attractions. They fiddle with these and become victims. Men going out to tether cattle and women searching for firewood are also affected. Anti-personnel mines are designed for someone to step on.

Sri Lanka, reportedly a high density anti-personnel mine area runs a casualty report of around 300 children and adults every year - coming close to heavily mined Cambodia.

'Mine or no mine, this land is mine' seems to be the returnees slogan. "It's their home. That's where they belong. So they desperately want to get back," said Wareham.

Compared with earlier times, awareness levels on mine clearance have improved but still not enough. Everyone realizes how important it is to redouble effort.

Sad enough the Sri Lankan Army has fought this war with a heavily mined line of defence - something of their own making. Intended to take on the role of buffer state or defence line later worked out otherwise with land loss and gain in battle. The result was Sri Lankan soldiers themselves becoming victims of their own 'mine plant'.

Incidentally, world celebrities - the like of Princess Diana and presently Queen Nur of Jordan not to forget Paul Macartney, played centre stage in their quest for a 'mine free' world.

"But," says Wareham, "to me, the real stars of this landmine issue are the ones who have stepped on it and live to tell the tale not to forget those out their clearing the menace. A deminer's task is the noblest - for he or she runs the risk of losing limb and life."

"Landmines", Wareham reminded, "are eternal soldiers - ever ready, alert or active. They don't recognise ceasefires. They'll continue to function even for decades unless removed now."

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