Friday, 21 February 2003 |
Editorial |
News Business Features Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries | Please forward your comments to the Editor, Daily News. Email : [email protected] Snail mail : Daily News, 35, D.R. Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 1 429429 / 331181 Fax : 94 1 429210 Keeping the peace effort on course While the majority of Sri Lankans are bound to be heaving a collective sigh of relief on realising that they have had a year bereft of war and bloodshed after 20 long years of conflict and suffering, the conduct of the LTTE is continuing to leave very much to be desired. This is a pity because continued provocative acts of the LTTE, some of which violate the MoU in letter and in spirit, could have an erosive impact on the peace process, although it is our fervent hope that the present conflict-free atmosphere would increasingly stabilize itself. The latest episode of questionable LTTE conduct is reported from Batticaloa, where the Tigers had reportedly commandeered some 10 State-run buses from the Government-controlled areas to an area held by them, with both LTTE cadres and some civilians on board. The latter were apparently being transported for a public meeting. This amounts to an act of coercion in a Government controlled area and is, therefore, violative of the spirit of the MoU. As Defence Minister Tilak Marapana lucidly clarified in Parliament recently, the State cannot act rashly, whatever the provocations posed by the LTTE, on account of the onerous responsibilities cast on it and we hope the authorities would be guided by this spirit. However it takes both sides to the conflict to make the country's peace dream come true and the LTTE needs to constantly bear this in mind. If the LTTE continues to act brashly and insensibly, to that extent would the peace process be impaired. Besides, these violations would be grist to the mill of the anti-peace lobby. The opponents of peace are bound to exploit them to damn the peace effort and as is well known, the anti-peace propagandists leave no stone unturned to cast the peace enterprise in an unfavourable light. From this point of view too the LTTE's irregularities would be counterproductive. We appreciate the difficulties the LTTE may be experiencing in transforming itself from a military outfit to a political organisation but an earnest, effective effort needs to be made in the latter direction if it is to collaborate meaningfully in the peace effort. It could very well be that the tail is tending to wag the dog in the LTTE but without clear unity of purpose between the leadership and the rank and life, we cannot perceive how the LTTE could convince anyone that it is in earnest when it speak of helping out in evolving a political solution to the conflict. If we are to continue on the present course of negotiations, intransigent elements in the LTTE would need to be disciplined and provided an education on how they need to conduct themselves in the transition from a guerrilla organisation to a political outfit. The LTTE owes it to the people of the North-East, who have clearly opted for a negotiated settlement, to uphold the MoU. Inasmuch as the Government and its agencies need to adhere to established legal procedures in their handling of sensitive ground situations, the LTTE too should inculcate the norms of civil society. It also needs to remember that the Government would be acting firmly to uphold the law. There is no question of the State following what is called a policy of pacification. Nevertheless, there is need for great patience on both sides. It should be remembered that there are active saboteurs. These elements are not really waiting in the wings. They are waiting eagerly to pounce on any opportunity which would enable them to jeopardise the peace process. Continued violations would give these elements the spring-board they need. |
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