Eradicating terrorism is the only path to peace

A Sri Lankan Burgher’s Perspective:

J.B. MULLER

TERRORIST PROBLEM: The stance of the Rajapaksa Government articulated by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in Trincomalee last Monday provides much-needed reassurance to all peace-loving people in the country.

Indeed, without eradicating terrorism how could we expect peace to be established and prevail? The LTTE has proved to the entire world that it is not interested in pursuing peace-only the establishment of a separate state at any cost.

All initiatives taken by the lawfully-constituted government of Sri Lanka (in succession) and the international community have failed in the face of LTTE pig-headedness.

Furthermore, his utterly outrageous claim to be the ‘sole representative of the Tamil people’ cannot stand the litmus test of a democratic election where neither coercion nor the threat of force is used.

Such a free election will produce other Tamil leaders who would prove his claim to be utterly hollow.

Even though the task of militarily defeating and destroying the LTTE is extremely difficult the Government is left with no option but to pursue that goal relentlessly and at great cost. It should also receive our wholehearted commitment because its eventual goal is to achieve peace.

This does not mean that the People would condone extravagance or the corruption that has plagued defence procurement. Those issues also should be faced in to retain the people’s confidence.

Terrorism has become a global phenomenon and the United States, the European Union, the leading members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Russia, China, Israel, India, and Japan are all agreed that terrorism must be eradicated.

Many initiatives are being pursued all over the world to fight the threat of terrorism and why shouldn’t Sri Lanka do the same to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country?

Some would point out that fighting terrorism in Sri Lanka has a dark side-that of human rights abuses on a widespread scale by members of the security forces and others associated with the Government.

However, whilst there are no firm indictments in this regard, it is the bounden duty of the Government to strictly enforce respect for human rights and crackdown on those who have violated human rights with impunity.

This is not only on behalf of the hapless victims only but also because such allegations seriously taint the image of the Government and the security establishment.

The Government is the lawfully-elected government of all its citizens irrespective of ethnicity, religious affiliation, language spoken, caste, class, political membership or any other consideration and it should begin thinking of itself as such.

It has, therefore, a critical associated duty and responsibility to also eradicate the root causes of terrorism: Discrimination, marginalisation, intolerance, bigotry, and poverty.

It should remove the causes for grievances regarding the utterly myopic language policy, the equally foolish standardisation of university admissions, and discrimination regarding appointments to high posts in the Public Services.

Here, the All Party Representative Committee should recommend the formulation of an entirely new constitution-a secular one meant for ALL citizens that would enshrine a Bill of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms that would guarantee, in no uncertain terms, the unfettered pursuit of liberty and the pursuit of happiness, to all its citizens.

Indeed, the organisations of Civil Society should form a ‘coalition of conscience’ to eradicate terrorism by assisting the Government to change those things that gave rise to terrorism-both Southern as well as Northern-and thus preserve the unity and independence of Sri Lanka.

If and when positive steps are taken to ensure that all citizens are fully coequal in all respects, the main grievances of those labelled ‘minorities’ would have been addressed fully.

It would also remove the repugnant dichotomy of a ‘majority’ versus the ‘minorities’ and also end, forever, coalition politics and the unethical horse-trading that goes on to form governments before and after elections.

Political parties based on ethnicity, religious affiliation, or linguistic preference ought to be banned forever in the national interest.

When these steps are taken and every son and daughter of Mother Lanka is recognized as a ‘bhumiputra’, we could all look forward not only to the dawn of real peace but also, with hope renewed, begin rebuilding our common Motherland.

Such steps would infuse the citizenry of the country with a new dynamism and vibrancy and unleash the inherent potential of our people to create ‘that other Eden’ only 40 miles from the gates of Paradise.

I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which ALL persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope that will be achieved in my lifetime. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

Indeed, a broad vision, shorn of narrow-mindedness, full of the wisdom of hindsight and a strong political will to move forwards, upwards, and outwards to create that new country is needed now more than ever.

Hopefully, with the resolve shown to fight terrorism militarily, we will also have the resolve to pursue the parallel course to remove the causes of terrorism also.