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Contrasts in tolerance and accommodation

Hardly was the news out that Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena was prevented from entering the Jaffna University premises by irate demonstrators to officiate at a ceremony launched to mark the handing over of some 55 schools renovated with European Commission assistance to the local authorities, that we were pleasantly surprised to learn that some Jaffna University students had held a press conference in the heart of Colombo, explaining the rationale behind the 'Pongu Tamil' celebrations, on Wednesday.

What would be of interest to the public are the ironic contrasts between the events. While the treatment meted out to Minister Jayawardena in Jaffna points to the continuing prevalence in the region of a climate of intolerance, the same cannot be said of the hub of political activity in the South, which is Colombo.

Now, we do not subscribe to the view that politicians are indispensable for the conduct of the collective life of the people and that the latter should be beholden to politicians and that the public should live in their shadow, but we wonder whether in terms of official protocol the Rehabilitation Minister had to be present at the handover ceremony in Jaffna. If so, the treatment suffered by the Minister at the hands of the angry demonstrators needs to be decried.

We believe that there should have been greater understanding among those who organised the event on the dos and donts which needed to be observed at the ceremony. Nevertheless, courteous treatment of a State functionary wouldn't have reflected badly on those who took offence at the sight of the Minister. It would in no way have decimated the dignity of the protestors. On the other hand, it would have proved that the demonstrators had finesse and tact - two essential attributes of those hoping to take on onerous public duties.

In contrast, student activists from Jaffna had a hassle-free press conference in Colombo, explaining in a relatively fear-free climate what was important for them. We do not intend to imply by all this that Southern Sri Lanka has reached the acme of political tolerance and democratic development but we have come a long away from around two and a half years ago when life in Colombo would have been filled with grave risks for political activists from Jaffna. While national integration is still a very long way off, it shouldn't go unnoticed that there is a measure of democratic accommodation in Southern Sri Lanka right now. These positives need to be built on and strengthened.

These improvements are certainly nothing much to crow about but it is best that the LTTE in particular, takes note of what will make the peace effort evolve smoothly. It could do with more diplomatic finesse and flexibility, if it truly desires peace and harmony. What we have in mind is the veritable standoff the LTTE is at present having with the SLMM over the Wan Ela LTTE camp, which is really an encroachment on government-held territory.

Through its inflexibility on this issue, the LTTE has already sent out the message that it intends to disregard the rulings of the peace facilitator. This is no way to prove one's peace credentials.

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