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by Afreeha Jawad

A simple sentence in Swiss Ambassador Bernardino Regazzoni's speech to celebrate his country's national day was poignant if not thought-provoking. In fact he said it all when he pronounced;

"Nothing was in favour of the arising of a state out of its constituent parts; four different languages - German, French, Italian and Romanish, different cultures and different histories. But the simple fact that prosperity and a peaceful future were better guaranteed by being together than with each one going his own way oriented the choice of our ancestors. So it happened to succeed."

Switzerland's history is not without its fair quota of strife and conflict. But the insight into these goings - on and the far-sightedness of those that governed Switzerland paid dividends in the years to come. To say the least, it was mental elegance in governance that transformed that country's civil society into one of accommodation resulting in togetherness.

Throughout the 712 years when at first in 1291, three Cantons decided to unite their destinies to preserve their independence and guarantee internal peace, the Swiss have placed importance in recognising the socio/cultural diversity of one another and handled related problems sensibly as and when they arose by releasing centre power into the Cantons that agitated for empowerment thereby consolidating whatever that may have been that country's collectivity.

"Every year to us the Swiss it is the case of re-discovery," said Regazzoni which made this writer reflect on the futility of the same old system of governance being repeated over decades, overlooking social injustice - of oppression, marginalisation and other systemic evils.

The Swiss perhaps aware of the dangers of intense centre rule, through such re-discovery gave their varied groups the privilege of doing things the way they wanted - to govern themselves, manage their own affairs, to speak their language, follow their customs, traditions and culture and all others connected to what was theirs.

Today, Switzerland with its 26 Cantons comprising cultural, historical and language diversity, stand united in recognition of these identities by the centre - a centre that prevented a breakaway of any sort which otherwise may have facilitated secession. Those that cry and wail over "Rata beduwa", "Rata Vikka" 'Drohia' (traitor), and expressions such as "We are giving in too much" are the 'best friends' of the LTTE, for, such thinking alone is quite promotive of the right to secession.

In fact, the willingness to grant more autonomy is anathema to secessionists. Against this backdrop one could conclude who the Tamil people's 'friends' are and who aren't with much irony.

Very importantly, what should penetrate the Southern mind are the repercussions of the reluctance on the part of some to devolve power to the North, which to say the least, is impending danger.

Premier Wickremesinghe and Minister G. L. Peiris unfailingly mention of Prabhakaran now not insisting on a separate state. In fact the Southern mind seemingly quite happy over such pronouncement has not delved into why Prabhakaran said so.

That some Southern minds with their aversion to greater autonomy are an ideal springboard to secession, - all this the LTTE chief is fully aware. Hence his insistence on 'no separate state' but greater autonomy.

Switzerland perhaps was fortunate to have rulers that squashed secession of its varied groups by adopting a greater accommodative spirit whereby that country's disintegration was thwarted.

The Swiss confederation today stands united under one flag. Even though Wickremesinghe's government has got a grasp of the reality, its opponents are many that are likely to whip-up public sentiment against greater autonomy for the North-East. But what are the strategies of the UNF to explain to civil society the 'future trauma' of not granting such autonomy? Why not go before the people and explain the dangers that lie in such rigidity that prevents the nation from being intact.

At a higher plane, inclusiveness is the recognition of all that is exclusive. Middle class warped thinking with a remarkable disability to see beyond the nose, propped-up by political opportunism is going to be Wickremesinghe's biggest hurdle. But the less educated, the more flexible and accommodative one could be.

Minister G. L. Peiris quite rightly spoke of the need for flexibility and elasticity of mind.

But then, current constitutional arrangements and legal mechanisms run contrary to such mind elasticity. Drilled as we are in structured divisiveness - a dire necessity for nation state existence which has trickled - down and is currently a widespread social malaise, are impediments in achieving all that the Minister calls for.

Territorial integrity, majority centred national flag and others - all external legacy bequeathed on the various states are so well ingrained and cemented in our people's minds that their extinction is unreachable so much so that non-acceptance of these ideals brands one a traitor, popularly known in the native tongue as "Drohiya" or traitor.

Individual countries such as Switzerland and Canada - not to forget countries such as those of the emerging European Union have realised the dangers of centralised power and have adopted flexibility and greater understanding in their political solutions to whatever problems arising time and again.

Thus, a unique feature in world events is that while distinct racial, religious and language groups within countries fight to manage their own affairs, countries themselves as a whole, like Europe, have formed common institutional mechanism such as the EU after dismantling the various existing divisions.

Today among the EU countries there is greater people-to-people contact where cultural differences merge with absolutely no travel restrictions of any sort and have most importantly succeeded in 'depositing' even a common currency.

The process of integration, the launch of the Euro and the progressive development of a common foreign and security policy provide the EU with much commercial and other clout.

The old adage of unity in diversity therefore could be given a thrust forward of diversity in unity. Perhaps, Sri Lanka has enough time and space to reach the latter while currently striving for the former with a centre stranglehold.

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