Positive developments in Sri Lanka - Khaleej Times
The Rajapaksa Government has acted decisively against their
fortresses in the East, and the LTTE had to run for cover for the first
time and in these times of concerted international campaign against
terrorism, how long can the militants hold out is a moot point, said the
Dubai-based Khaleej Times in a weekend editorial.
The editorial, titled ‘New Plan in Colombo’: “It is premature yet to
say whether something tangible will come out of the power devolution
plan currently being finalised by Sri Lanka’s political parties. There
are positive sides to the move, even as it is not time yet to say there
is light at the end of the tunnel.
Clearly, the plan is aimed at directly addressing the grievances of
the Tamil minority, spread largely in the North and the East, who are up
in arms for a quarter of a century, raising the spectre of a civil war,
and resulting in the deaths of over 60,000 people so far.
A proposal, for which broad consensus has been reached, is to make
the provinces the units of devolution of powers, within which, districts
will be a major administrative unit.
What must be of essence, under the plan, is how much financial clout,
and leverage, the provincial authorities, as also the district
administrations, will have.
After all, everything about development boils down to matters of
economics.
Tamils’ grievance has been that their regions, and the people, were
being given a step- motherly treatment by Colombo. Devolution of powers
must mean, prima facie, an end to such a scenario.
What, however, is positive about the current plan is that the salient
elements of the Sri Lankan political establishment stand together in a
common cause, unlike in the past when they were working at cross
purposes.
Yet, the fact as it stands is also that the rebels, under the banner
of the LTTE, have not expressed themselves in favour of the move, and
are still insisting on the setting up of an independent state for the
Tamils. These are difficult times for the rebels, as well.
The Rajapaksa Government has acted decisively against their
fortresses in the East, and the LTTE had to run for cover for the first
time.
The north, however, remains unassailable. The rebels have their
strengths, including the rare sea and air power that they possess, much
to the worry of Colombo.
Yet, in these times of concerted international campaign against
terrorism, how long can the militants hold out is a moot point. In the
least, they must be responding favourably to positive approaches, be it
from the Government or from elsewhere.
On its part, the Government may have its flaws, but it is making some
serious efforts, of late.
A carrot and stick policy is what it is pursuing, and it hopefully
must work. |