Emerging priorities

THE popular expectation is likely to be that the September 19 meeting of Sri Lanka's Co-Chairs in the peace process, called by peace facilitator Norway, would have the desired effect of exacting greater adherence to the Ceasefire Agreement - in both letter and spirit - on the part of the LTTE.

The brutal assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar by the LTTE, proved in no uncertain terms that the Tigers are aiming at holding the Ceasefire Agreement up to ridicule. By doing so they were also attempting to take the country to the brink of war.

The patient forbearance and stoical endurance of the State of Sri Lanka in general and of our Security Forces in particular, prevented the LTTE from succeeding in its covert, destructive course.

Meanwhile, Norway and the SLMM came under extremist fire in Southern Sri Lanka for alleged incompetence in sustaining the ceasefire but the facilitators have won some international acclaim for sticking to what is being seen as an unenviable task.

The consensus internationally seems to be that the SLMM is "doing a good job" in the most difficult circumstances.

Nevertheless, events have proved that the SLMM needs to play a more proactive role to prevent ceasefire violations. The framework of rules within which the SLMM operates, apparently, needs to be revised to enable it to play a more effective role in curbing ceasefire violations.

On the face of it, the SLMM seems to be needing a greater coercive capability. All these issues and more, we hope, would be taken up for discussion by the Co-Chairs in the peace process.

There is no escaping the need for the Co-Chairs to also bring pressure on the LTTE to observe the terms of the Ceasefire Accord.

Inasmuch as the Lankan polity needs to realise that there is no future for Sri Lanka outside a settlement based on power devolution and a recognition of the legitimate rights of the Tamil people, the LTTE should be compelled into cooperating with the State to bring about a peaceful settlement.

This is a task our Co-Chairs need to undertake, if Sri Lanka is to be taken along the path of a negotiated settlement.

Meanwhile, the State needs to be commended for continuing to cooperate with the Norwegian Government and the SLMM, in their efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement.

We now learn that the Government has consented to a Colombo venue, suggested by Norway, for a meeting between its representatives and those of the LTTE, for reviewing the Ceasefire Agreement. It was always our view that the LTTE needs to be engaged and we are glad that wise counsel has prevailed.

It is crucially important that the State remains committed to this course of engaging the LTTE in efforts to resurrect the negotiatory process.

As could be seen, communalistic sentiments are seeking to reach a greater stridency, particularly in Southern Sri Lanka, now that political posturing is tending to heighten in the run-up to a Presidential election.

The main Presidential contenders need to beware of bankrupt political elements which find it opportune to fan the fires of ethnic nationalism and religious bigotry.

The steady course taken by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga needs to be steadfastly sustained.

It has been her consistent position that a solution based on power devolution needs to be pursued coupled with the perpetuation of the Ceasefire Agreement. There is no alternative to these policy positions.