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| Saturday, 21 August 2004 |
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Editorial | |
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| Please forward your comments to the Editor, Daily News. Email : [email protected] Snail mail : Daily News, 35, D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 11 2429429 / 94 11 2421181 Fax : 94 11 2429210 World concern amplifies at LTTE terror Yesterday's statement by the US Government, coming close on the heels of one by the EU, highlighting the need for the LTTE to enter immediately the negotiatory process with the Lankan Government, further amplifies concern by sections of the world community over the LTTE's unimpressive track record on accelerating the peace effort. In contrast, the US statement notes that, "President Kumaratunga has shown her desire to move forward on the peace process launched with the 2002 ceasefire." The statement is emphatic that the LTTE "needs to respond positively" and enter the negotiatory effort with the Lankan Government. Thus are the peace-loving sections of world opinion profoundly concerned at the glaringly contradictory and reprehensible conduct of the LTTE. That is, it claims to be committed to peace but flagrantly violates these unctuous words through its barbaric behaviour of savagely gunning-down political adversaries and by plotting to eliminate even Government Ministers by continually activating its assassination squad. The latest victim of Tiger brutality, of course, was the EPDP's Media Secretary who was killed in the heart of Colombo in broad daylight. The US Government makes no bones of the fact that it is completely opposed to the LTTE's continuing dalliance with terror: "Assassinations and suicide bombings are unacceptable. The recruitment of child soldiers must cease," the US statement emphasized. Thus is LTTE intransigence and unconscionable backsliding continuing to shock the peace-loving sections of the world community. The LTTE should be perceptive enough to see that it has no choice but to respond positively to the Government's moves to resume the negotiatory process. The international community would in no way wink at its paranoid conduct and unremitting brutality. The LTTE should be sensible enough to read the writing on the wall. There is simply no space for tyrannical, undemocratic behaviour on its part. The Lankan Government and those concerned sections of world opinion are for democracy, pluralism and tolerance of democratic dissent. If the LTTE imagines that it could completely stifle peaceful opposition to its presence and then negotiate peace, it is completely mistaken. There are simply no takers for such authoritarian conduct. The Tigers would need to efface their "stripes" and adopt the methods of democracy in both word and deed if the peace process is to be advanced and the legitimate interests of the Tamil people are to be served. The Lankan Government is unambiguously committed to the perpetuation of the peace process. However, it is not opting for what is called "the peace of the grave yard". The Government is aiming at an honourable peace by peaceful means. Equally vitally, it would be aiming at a solution which would be fair by all communities. It is also profoundly cognisant of the fact that the honour and dignity of the Tamil people needs to be up held. The LTTE, therefore, would need be conform to these parameters if a peace deal is to be clinched which would be acceptable to all. Mindless recalcitrance would take the LTTE nowhere. |
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