A leaf from South Africa on conflict-resolution

Lynn OCKERSZ

PEACE-MAKING: The Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE should not only talk directly to each other, without outside help or facilitation, they must do it right here and now in Sri Lanka on the basis of an inclusive process which involves all sections of relevant local opinion.

These were some of the most significant points to emerge from addresses made to the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration by two, visiting conflict-resolution experts from South Africa, Roelf Meyer and Ebrahim I. Ebrahim, at a workshop in Colombo on June 3. Deputy Minister Dilan Perera presided.

Meyer, who addressed the workshop first, is a former Constitutional Affairs Minister of South Africa. He held office immediately before South Africa made the transition from apartheid to democracy and also served under President Nelson Mandela.

He was the chief negotiator for the National Party during the negotiations which led to a political settlement in South Africa.

Meyer retired from active politics in 2000 but has provided his expertise to the resolution of a number of conflicts in the world, including those in Northern Ireland, Middle East, Rwanda, Burundi and Kosovo.

Ebrahim, who has been an active member of the African National Congress from his youth, negotiated on behalf of the ANC in the South African peace process.

A member of the South African Parliament, Ebrahim was imprisoned for fifteen years by the white government in South Africa's apartheid years.

A senior member of the ANC, Ebrahim is a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee. Meyer emphasized the importance of parties to a conflict talking directly to each other without preconditions or reservations. "Extend absolute goodwill to the other side "was his recommendation.

Besides, inclusiveness in a peace effort, is vital. In the South African conflict-resolution effort, the negotiators from the National Party government and the ANC, combed the countryside consulting all shades of opinion on a peaceful settlement to the country's conflict.

The leadership for such an exercise was provided readily by ANC leader Nelson Mandela and President Frederik de Klerk of the National Party government.

The provision of leadership in such an exercise is essential. In the South African case both Mandela and de Klerk were chiefly instrumental in impressing on South Africa, the need for a political settlement.

On the subject of direct negotiations, Meyer said that, "we negotiated by ourselves - we did not need outside help". Contacts between the parties were established at a both formal and informal level when the need for negotiations was recognized and actively promoted.

Informal contact even took the form of the antagonists sharing a common meal and openly dialoguing even amid on-going violence.

Thus is trust and mutual respect built-up among the parties which results in a respect for diversity - communal, linguistic and religious. Meyer said in lighter vein that "Lanka knows nothing of diversity" because in South Africa the situation is far more complex as regards diversity.

For example, South Africa has 11 official languages besides diverse religions, such as Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.

Reconciliation among antagonists is another important element in peace-making. Meyer cited the case of Mandela, who visited the widow of former South African President Pieter Botha, once released from jail in a gesture of reconciliation and cordiality. It was Botha's regime which was instrumental in imprisoning Mandela.

As important as reconciliation was tolerance and understanding. Both parties were willing to work unreservedly towards a solution - they walked "the extra mile" for peace.

The main parties never lost sight of the need for a "win - win" solution, a settlement which would render both parties victorious.

Accordingly, a "sufficient consensus" was aimed at and the parties strictly refrained from "scoring political points" in the negotiations. This proved vital in bringing about success in the negotiations.

The broad-based consultations across the length and breadth of South Africa which attended the constitution drafting process ensured its transparency and fairness. The media played a supportive role in the process.

The new constitution did not base human rights on a majority - minority division. Individual rights was the standard.

All in all, in conflict resolution it is important to have an all-inclusive public consultation. Public opinion from all parts of a polity need to be sounded out to create a framework for a solution.

Meyer also pointed out that initially, designing a process on how to talk is more important than the substance of the talks. A premature announcement of the substance to a settlement could trigger-off an adverse reaction to the negotiations among some.

Ebrahim I Ebrahim too, emphasized the vital importance of inclusivity in the search for a settlement in a conflict among groups and focused on the need for a "homegrown solution", that is, a country's own solution.

He too stressed the need for direct negotiations among parties to the conflict and highlighted the advisability of removing "party politics" from negotiations.

Women children, youth, intelligentsia, etc, from both sides of the divide should meet to evolve a consensual solution. It is crucially important that the parties to the negotiations put out a Statement of Intent, outlining the fundamental aims of the settlement process.

For example, that Sri Lanka belongs to all its sections and that the country would have a single defence and foreign policy.

Ebrahim said that the international consensus now was that conflicts should be resolved by negotiations. He sees the EU ban on the LTTE as an instrument that compels all parties to the Lankan conflict to move towards a negotiated settlement.

Outlining some of the main elements that contributed towards the success of the South African negotiations, Ebrahim said that, all parties were genuinely committed to a negotiated settlement. Face-to-face interaction proved vital in this process.

It is also important to keep in mind the "Third Force" element which always aims at disrupting a negotiatory effort. For instance, while talks were on in South Africa, killings were continued by an unseen force aimed at scuttling the talks. Nevertheless, the negotiations were held to a finish on account of the main parties' commitment to a solution.

It is also important that the economic dividend or benefits from the talks are focused on and the people made to enjoy them.

Right throughout, the ANC and the National Party addressed the people together on a negotiated settlement, thereby showing a joint commitment to a settlement. Right through, sincerity on the part of the leadership of both parties to the conflict, proved very vital for success of the negotiations.