WE must understand that the LTTE stands firmly for nothing less than
Tamil Eelam, a separate state. Now they have tasted power and
recognition, they know how elating and thrilling it is.
The LTTE from top to bottom enjoying power live with fear and
obeisance of the people; and, who likes to give up all that mundane
comfort.
However, the LTTE will never be able to get Eelam either by war or
peace.
Therefore, the only alternative left for the LTTE is to prolong or
drag on the peace process hoping for a settlement after consolidating
their power through an operation of a ceasefire agreement enforced on
their terms.
That is why they are keen on the CFA and the ISGA the two instruments
which they think could pave the way for a de facto Eelam and the Eelam
de jure will not be far away.
In the meantime they hope to destabilise the economy and demoralise
the Sri Lankan army.
So they will never agree to a political settlement; nor for any
direct talks with the Sri Lankan government that will lead to a form of
settlement. They will participate in any discussion only if it does not
yield any positive result. Nothing less than Eelam will quench their
thirst for power.
They are a set of terrorists who believe only in the doctrine that
the end justifies the means. But we fight on a footing that means
justify the end.
Therefore, to defeat their Eelam goal, the South represented by an
elected government should first offer a solution with maximum possible
devolution.
Obviously the LTTE will reject it as their existence depends on
rejection under some pretext.
Then the government should call them to offer their solution.
True to their conduct they will ask for full autonomy or offer
nothing because to please the South is quite unpleasant for them. So let
the international community then step in to rescue both parties from the
impasse they are landed in.
Then what is the solution? Expect the next generation to take over.
Allow the LTTE to consolidate in the North. Hope for the
international community to bring pressure upon both parties for a
settlement. Or let time heal all wounds.
E. M. G. EDIRISINGHE - Dehiwala.
THIS week (at least) two ministers were saying that the LTTE should
be forced to come for negotiations.
Negotiate what? the LTTE does not want any negotiations as it knows
it wants something non-negotiable ie. Country's Sovereignty. That is why
they have this unending war.
This is a well-known fact and for the past two decades our successive
Governments have been languishing on a self-cheating process and they
dragged the so-called International community also into this pit. Now
this International community does not allow us to come out of it.
At least now the Government should start negotiating with the LTTE
using their own language in the Vanni jungles - not verbal negotiations
in Geneva, Oslo etc. Government's prime aim should be to open the eyes
of the International community to see the true picture without talking
Baila (as the man in the street says) with them or listening to their
Baila.
It is high time that we stop this nuisance of negotiations and finish
this off. It is easier to have a straight war than having checkpoints,
armed escorts, suspecting every man/woman, checking every bag and
baggage, avoiding important functions and other thousands of things for
security and safety forever.
After getting a good beating at Muttur, that beast with the fixed
smile talks big. No respectable Government or nation or even the world
cannot allow this to happen even for another day.
DESHAPRIYA RAJAPAKSHA - Colombo 6
YOUR editorial under the caption 'Save energy the Chinese way,'
recently is commendable. It has become a habit now to increase the fuel
charges whenever the prices go up in the world market. No body can
guarantee that the prices of fuel in the world market would be static
and as such no more increases in time to come.
How are we to face this eternal increase? It is time to buck our
ideas up. In addition to the increase of the Cost of Living daily, the
effect of the increase of fuel would aggravate the day to day problems
faced by the ordinary masses.
The cost of production of the essential commodities, increase in
fertilisers, labour charges, transport etc. are some that can directly
involve.
First of all, the public transport system should be streamlined. The
transport of goods by train may be strengthened. I remember a free
transport of employees from the Fort railway station to the work places
and back after work, was in operation sometime back.
Some such short term and long term arrangements to ease this problem
with expert advise may be looked into. I feel some sort of survey be
done why ordinary people continuously travel using public transport.
A Government Pensioner would say 'This is my nth time going to 'X'
Department to get my salary anomaly rectified.
I being a Government Pensioner have gone to a certain Dept to get my
wife's Male W.& O.P. calculated several times and the replies I got are
worth mentioning. (You have not sent the required reply through 'Y', or
it is being calculated, papers are sent to the computer typing, last
reply I got about two weeks back is submitted for signature and no reply
has been received so far).
Others would say things like going to get the driving licence to get
a copy of a birth certificate or death certificate.
If unwanted trips to Government Departments, can be done away with
the people would avoid travel by public conveyance and thereby fuel
consumption can be reduced to a certain extent.
T. B. Ekanayake - Ampitiya |