Govt mobilising all stakeholders to evolve sustainable peace - Foreign Minister

Hiran H. Senewiratne

The Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) will cease to be effective from today. Although many believed that the CFA would lead to lasting peace, such hopes have been shattered as the LTTE violated the agreement thousands of times. The so-called international safety net failed to rein in the LTTE.

In an interview with the Daily News on the abrogation of the CFA, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said there is no change with regard to the Government’s desire to evolve a political solution.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: The International community is rather critical about the abrogation of the CFA. How does the Government respond to that ?

A: The international community will positively look at the Government’s efforts in countering terrorism in the event of abrogation of the CFA. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government sincerely believes in ending the war with a political solution to have sustainable peace.

We believe a political proposal would be announced soon by the Government which will satisfy all in meeting desired objectives of sustainable peace for the people.

Q: During the Ceasefire Agreement, while the peace talks were progressing there were major violations of the agreement from February 2002 to January 2008. But he once talked about its deficiencies?

A: When Geneva talks were going on in 2006 LTTE committed more than 750 killings including our Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and many other dignitaries. During the Geneva talks the LTTE demanded the removal of High Security Zones and walked out from the negotiations table.

Even UNICEF reported that more than 7,500 child recruitments were done and they held the Government to ransom by attacking the Muhamalai entry point. The LTTE killed a countless number of people during the ceasefire. We and our Forces tolerated believing that they would return to the peace process.

Q: We see some provisions in the CFA are detrimental to the sovereignty of the country. How do you look at that ?

A: As far as the CFA is concerned it has been observed in the breach by the LTTE, thus reducing the Sri Lanka Government to the level of a nominal state.

Article (1) of the CFA says that “Parties have agrees to implement ceasefire agreement between the armed forces.” This gives parity of status to the LTTE to keep an armed force which eroded the sovereignty of the state if Sri Lanka.

This is the only agreement anywhere in the world that prevents a sovereign State from having an armed force of their own, which was a major erosion for the national security to the country.

Further, Article 1 (10) of the CFA says that “The Government of Sri Lanka troops shall as of D Day plus 60 days be permitted unlimited passage between Jaffna Kandy road and A9 road”. This means the Government troops cannot carry arms - they have to be unarmed in the presence of LTTE.

Further, Article 1 (3) of the CFA prevents Armed Forces of Sri Lanka from engaging offensive operations against LTTE.

With these provisions detrimental to the country’s sovereignty, they could not deal with the LTTE when they are engaged in all hostilities against the Government forces and targeting civilians of the country in a brutal manner.

Article 1 (3) prevented the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka from engaging in offensive operations against the LTTE.

If this is the backdrop, the question arises as to how the Government should proceed. Therefore, if we are to achieve peace it has to bring about an environment to create peace within the country.

Q : With all these concerns, how does the Government handle the views expressed by the international community on the abrogation of CFA?

A: The Government patiently tolerated all provocations. During the last two years the LTTE continued the killing spree in Kebithigollawa, Nittambuwa, Seenigama and Chandikulam finally in Nugegoda, Slave Island and in Buttala recent weeks. Therefore, we should continue showing to the international community how the LTTE violated the ceasefire.

Q: How are you going to muster all political forces to settle this problem ?

A: The Government shall look seriously at sustainable peace in Sri Lanka for which the Government is mobilising all stakeholders to participate in settling this problem through the All Party Representative Committee.