Moderation, an essential need

The Social Scientists' Association strongly condemns the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. Although the LTTE has denied involvement in this senseless act of violence which is also a very serious violation of the Ceasefire Agreement, this killing is a crucial blow to the fragile peace process of which the LTTE is the co-partner with the Government of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan people of all communities who reacted to this tragic and shocking event with calm, deserve praise. It is to the credit of President Kumaratunga's Government that the crisis was managed with patience and maturity.

We note that the assassination of Kadirgamar has taken place in the backdrop of continuing deterioration of relations between the Government and the LTTE.

The escalating violence in the Eastern Province, the shadow war between the intelligence wings of the Army and the LTTE, the killing of political rivals by the LTTE and its breakaway faction, activities of Paramilitary groups in the Eastern Province as well as in Colombo, and the continuing recruitment of under-aged children by the LTTE in the Eastern Province have been particularly detrimental to the peace process.

The legal setbacks to the P-TOMS Agreement have also contributed to the growing mistrust between the Government and the LTTE. Because of the protracted suspension of peace talks between the two sides, the capacity of international facilitation and the role of negotiations in making the peace process stable has also diminished.

In such an unstable context, the Killing of Kadirgamar is likely to have debilitating consequences for the peace process as a whole. There are regular reports of the killing of political opponents, combatants, journalists and civilians. The list of more recent killings includes the names of P. Sivaram, Charles Wijewardena and Mr. and Mrs. Selvarajah.

The cycle of retaliatory violence and political killings must stop. If it does not, there is an imminent danger of our country relapsing to war. Another phase of war will be incalculably destructive to the entire country, to all communities and all parties to the conflict. We therefore, appeal to both the Government and the LTTE to take immediate steps to de-escalate violence and resume the process of political engagement.

Pursuing peace in a climate of escalating violence is not an easy task. Nevertheless, peace is the only path to peace. Meanwhile, for the Government to effectively manage the serious provocations that threaten the fragile peace process, a broad political consensus in the country with regard to the goal as well as strategies for negotiated peace is essential.

However, such a consensus across the political divide is not possible at the present moment, particularly in the context of the possibility of national elections. We therefore, appeal to all national political parties in Parliament to work in a framework of moderation that can hopefully prevent further escalation of violence. Such a step will also create minimum conditions to make it difficult for any party to continue to violate the Ceasefire Agreement.

There is now a special and urgent responsibility for the international community to bring the LTTE back to the peace process and dissuade them and others from engaging in further violence. The international community should also ensure that all parties strictly adhere to the terms of the Ceasefire Agreement without resorting to political or other excuses. They may also consider the need for engaging the two sides to re-negotiate the CFA with new verification mechanisms.

We earnestly urge all political forces in the country to collectively create and sustain political conditions suitable for nurturing the peace process, even amid grave setbacks.

Social Scientists' Association