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LTTE ambivalence and ceasefire perpetuation

While most peace watchers are unlikely to disagree with Minister Professor G. L. Peiris' position that we are seeing some forward movement in the peace process, with the LTTE speaking of their intention to study the new Interim Administration proposals of the Government, continued killings of members of groups opposed to the LTTE, are continuing to cause consternation and worry.

Even as Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim visited the East on Thursday, another senior EPDP cadre was shot dead by a suspected LTTE pistol gang in the heart of Batticaloa town. This killing is believed to have brought to 115, the number of such activists gunned down by suspected LTTE killer squads.

The highly systematic, ruthless and selective nature of these killings over the past few months render facetious, the disowning of responsibility for such killings by the LTTE. As pointed out before by us, the aim of the killings seems to be the consolidation of the political and military supremacy of the LTTE in the North-East. Besides, they seem to be orchestrated to cripple the democratic process in the North-East. For, democratic governance is unthinkable without multi-party participation. However, the decimation of other Tamil groups would allow the LTTE to rule with a mailed fist in the North-East.

Although the Government is compelled to negotiate with the LTTE on account of its political and military predominance in the North-East, it is obliged to ensure that the basic political aspirations of the North-East populace are met. Democratic decision-making is one of these. A gross injustice would be meted out to the people of the region if these essential requirements are overlooked by the State. It is best that the LTTE too remembers that it wouldn't find ruling with an iron fist easy. The suppression of the people's rights would lead to an unsure and insecure grasp on the reins of power. Popular and bloody revolt would soon be on the cards.

However, ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire is the SLMM's responsibility and it is about time that a close look is taken at the ceasefire terms by the SLMM and the Norwegian government. This task could be greatly facilitated by the presence of Norwegian special envoy Eric Solheim. What needs to be decided on once and for all is whether the SLMM mandate covers surreptitious political killings by the LTTE. If not, it is our belief that the SLMM should be empowered to take the LTTE to task for such killings, if found culpable.

We also call on the LTTE to come off its seeming ambivalence on the perpetuation of the ceasefire. If it professes to be a representative of the Tamil people, it stands to reason that it should promote the community's interests. This cannot be achieved through an abandonment of democratic principles and practices.

As we said before, a suppression of people's rights cannot lead to peace. On the contrary it would only breed popular disaffection. Besides, the LTTE needs to strictly abide by the rulings of the SLMM if it is to cooperate in bringing peace. It is best that the LTTE guards itself against the delusion that it could have all its whims and fancies catered to in pacifist fashion. Peace-making is not synonymous with pacifism.

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