Rally round the peace banner

WE hope President Kumaratunga's elaborate clarifications of the nature and functions of the proposed Tsunami Relief Council would defuse the numerous misapprehensions and anxieties that have been foisted on some sections of the public, over it.

The principal point to be remembered is that the Council does not represent a political solution to the ethnic conflict but is an administrative arrangement for the distribution of post-tsunami assistance in the affected areas of the North-East.

The present is seen as a crucial moment in the political career of President Kumaratunga but those familiar with her trials as a politician would realise that this is yet another challenge which the President possesses the capability and verve to successfully meet and overcome.

To begin with, she has proved in no uncertain terms that she is committed to bringing peace to Sri Lanka, through the working out of a political solution. She fought three elections on this question of a political solution and on all three occasions won a resounding 'yes' from the people on her policy position on peace.

Need we say that the President even risked an attempt on her life for the sake of ethnic peace. However, undaunted by these obstacles and dangers she has striven to fulfill the duty which has devolved on her.

In fact, from the inception, she and her late husband, Vijaya Kumaratunga, took it on themselves to work towards ethnic peace and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, as President, continues to toil indefatigably with a sense of mission on the road to a negotiated settlement.

It is the duty of all right-thinking citizens to rally round her because, as humans, we have no choice but to achieve what is good and honourable.

A country which forgets the lessons of history is condemned to repeat its blunders. We hope this won't be the case with Sri Lanka. We have lost more than 60,000 lives in this conflict from both sides of the divide. We have bled white and suffered tremendous material losses.

These reverses have cost us tremendous prosperity and progress. So much so that we have sunk considerably in the league of Asia's up-and-coming nations. All this and more has been our lot because we failed to resolve this wasting conflict by peaceful means.

It is saddening that what could be discerned so clearly is being stubbornly and mindlessly ignored by the detractors of the peace process. Do they want war and bloodshed instead of peace and prosperity? Don't they value human life and wish that their children and the emerging generations would enjoy the fruits of a peaceful life?

It is now or never. We need to recognize the humanity of all communities and cultivate a sense of reverence for life - as preached by all our religions. If we fail to do so, we would go down in history as a failed state.

We urge the State to do what is right. The Tsunami Relief Council must be launched and the way paved for a peaceful resolution of our conflict.