Move firmly towards peace

IN this picturesque isle of Lanka, where "every prospect" is said to be pleasing to the eye, there is a tragic inability among some to be magnanimous and considerate.

This is clearly seen in the current protests against the Government's project of working out a joint mechanism with the LTTE for the distribution and utilization of foreign assistance in the tsunami-hit regions of the North-East.

Apparently, an attempt is being made by Southern hardline opinion to come together on this issue, with the aim of pressurising the Government into abandoning the joint mechanism plan.

From what could be gathered, not only the word LTTE but even the universally-craved for condition of peace is anathema to these protesting sections. Do they desire the country to wither and die in the current conflict?

We are at present in a no-war, no-peace state. The armed conflict is not on, to be sure, but we are not enjoying a stable peace either. We would not be in a position to enjoy complete statehood and development as long as we do not resolve, once and for all, our ethnic conflict, on an equitable, non-violent basis. In other words, a negotiated political solution should be found to the conflict.

This challenge, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been more than willing to undertake and see to completion.

In fact, she has won an overwhelming popular mandate on not less than three occasions to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the conflict. In other words, she has the firm backing of the majority of Lankans to bring peace but there are some sections in our body politic which are eager to see Lanka in the throes of conflict.

President Kumaratunga has right along distinguished herself as a champion of peace. Long before she began to be described as the "peace candidate" - in the crucial polls she faced - she tried ardently to build peace bridges between Northern and Southern Sri Lanka, along with her late husband, Vijaya Kumaratunga.

Now at a time when some vociferous voices of anger are raised against the current peace moves, the peace-loving "silent majority" is obliged to rally round her.

It is only unreserved,popular support for a negotiated settlement which could make the country's peace dram come true.

We take this occasion to call on the President to firmly move towards peace. No heed should be paid to these destructive voices of dissent which do not have an alternative programme to bring peace to Sri Lanka.

Interestingly, some of these anti-peace elements which brought terror to Southern Sri Lanka at one time and also maniacally opposed a role for India, are today tamely and sheepishly calling for Indian involvement in our conflict. Don't they realise that secular India along with other principal states in this region, is for a negotiated, peaceful settlement?

Therefore, there is no alternative to a negotiated settlement based on power-sharing. Towards this goal must we go.