Continue on the rational path

THE killing of nine more Navy personnel by the LTTE makes the conclusion inescapable that the terror group is not at all interested in pursuing the path of a negotiated settlement.

The cynics may even consider this latest heinous act a declaration of war but the country could be glad that wise counsel in continuing to prevail in the Mahinda Rajapakse administration, with the latter reiterating its commitment to a political solution while vehemently condemning the bloody attack on the sailors, which sentiments we too echo.

The Tigers' continuing bestiality exposes it as an organisation which is very much wedded to the path of bloodshed and terror. This stark fact could no longer be concealed and the world should unflinchingly come to terms with this disturbing truth.

Thus far, a good part of particularly the West has dragged its feet on the need to get the LTTE to mend its ways and cooperate with the Government in working out a political solution.

The US and Australia have minced no words in some of their recent appraisals of the LTTE, but there is hardly any consensus among Western states on how they intend handling the LTTE in its current phase of heightened intransigence.

If these states are desirous of seeing Lanka safely on the road to a political solution, pressure should be brought by them on the LTTE to ensure it cooperates with the Lankan State in negotiating peace. Sticking to verbal and other niceties, apparently, in relating to the LTTE simply is not working or producing the desired result.

What is urgently needed is a wide consensus among those countries of the West, which are taking a keen interest in Lanka's future, on how the Tigers could be compelled to come to the negotiating table and remain there until a settlement is hammered out.

Apparently, a soft approach by the world community to the Tigers is not paying dividends. What is ideally required, is a punitive, sanctions - based approach which would have a compelling impact on the LTTE.

Meanwhile, the State should remain firmly committed to the negotiatory process. This does not amount to taking a pacifist path. On the contrary it would help the Government in its efforts to further expose the LTTE as the spoiling factor in peace and in isolating it internationally.

While such an approach would help in garnering increased international support for the Government, it would stand the State in good stead later when the world comes to realise that a defensive posture is not producing any positive outcomes.

Until then, the State should continue to traverse the path of negotiations. Every effort must be made to engage the LTTE in the current drive to jumpstart the peace effort.

Besides, efforts must be stepped-up to formulate that all-important Southern consensus. Consultations between the State and Southern political parties must be fast-tracked and a sensible consensus based an extensive power sharing arrived at.

Succumbing to emotion could be one of the worst things to befall the Lankan polity at this juncture. Certainly, the temptation is great to react emotionally to current developments. The Southern polity in particular would do well to commit itself to an absolutely rational path.

Meanwhile, there should not be any deviation, on the part of the State, from the principle of the Rule of Law. This message needs to be dinned in particularly to those organs of the State which concern themselves with law enforcement. Any weakening of the Rule of Law would only help the LTTE.