Haggling on peace could carry a price

PEACE PROCESS: Jon Hanssen-Bauer, who played a key role on behalf of Norway in bringing Israel and Palestine for negotiations has been announced as the new Norwegian special envoy for Sri Lanka.

The new Norwegian special envoy will replace the Norwegian Minister of International Development who was right behind the peace initiatives between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE since they began with the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002.

Despite heavy `shelling' from the parties opposed to Norway's involvement in the peace process and particularly to his standing in the peace initiatives, Erik Solheim was successful to a greater extent in working out the CFA and making the LTTE to engage in peace talks with Government leaders.

The resumption of face-to-face talks between the Government and the LTTE after three years became a reality in Geneva last month mainly due to the shuttle service carried out by Erik Solheim between Colombo and Killinochchi.

Soon after the talks between the Ranil Government and the LTTE came to a standstill in 2003, even Norway halted its efforts temporarily in facilitating the peace process.

It was after the tsunami devastation and later with the emergence of the UPFA Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, that Norway resumed its role as a facilitator.

It is now with the first round of talks between the Rajapakse Government and the LTTE held in Geneva last month, that Erik Solheim has stepped down from his role as a special envoy in the Lankan peace process.

Though it has been announced that Jon Hanssen-Bauer will be Norway's special envoy for the Sri Lankan peace process, it is also understood that Erik Solheim will be responsible for overall facilitation of the process.

Since Norway came into the picture in handling the Lankan ethnic issue, the international community, including India, was full of praise for Norway's role.

Rated as number one in the world as far as socio-economic,political aspects are concerned, Norway has been contributing to peace building in countries. So with the wider experience in dealing with several critical issues, including the Israel-Palestine turmoil, Norway was extremely patient and tolerant over the `mudslinging' it has experienced over the Lankan crisis.

India was the first country to help in peace-building in Sri Lanka. When the Indian efforts were gathering momentum in the mid-eighties there was a `hue and cry 'over India's mediatory role.

However with the bitter experience of losing one of its illustrious leaders, Rajiv Gandhi who was involved in the Lankan crisis, India kept away from the Lankan conflict.

Since the Tamil militancy escalated in 1983, no ceasefire agreement, except the CFA brought by Norway in 2002, has succeeded in halting all out war which was destroying almost everything in the country.

So whatever the government in power in the country it will not consider of removing Norway from its facilitator role in the peace process. Though several Tamil political parties are vehemently opposed to the LTTE, they still believe that only Norway could play an important role in building peace in the country.

The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP)led by Minister Douglas Devananda and People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) led by former Parliamentarian Dharmalingam Sitharthan, are still under the severe threat of the LTTE, but with their familiarisation with the ground realities in the North and East, very much believe that only Norway could play an important role in the peace process.

With President Mahinda Rajapakse endorsing the continuity of Norway's facilitator role, a recent survey conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives indicates that 87 percent of the Sinhalese people in the country are supportive of the peace moves initiated by President Rajapakse.

Therefore with a few weeks to go before the second round of talks to be held between Government and the LTTE in Geneva, Norway has also moved its pawn by appointing Jon Hanssen-Bauer, as special envoy to the Lankan issue.

As the ethnic crisis drags on with fears of clashes erupting at any moment, it is the innocent civilians in the war-torn North and East who are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel as most of them still live in the grip of the agony created by war.

So any delays and arrogance by creating obstacles to the peace process will result in nothing but the overall suppression of the people of the North and East.