Towards the North
Now that the dust has settled on
the Eastern Provincial poll no time should be lost by the
Government in setting its sights in restoring democracy in the
North too as it has vowed to do.
The overwhelming response of the Eastern population at the
hustings demonstrated how much it had been yearning for
democracy which no doubt would be the case with the people of
the North as well.
It also showed the political maturity of the Easterners and
their eagerness to be governed by their own local
representatives wherein they could have a direct say in their
affairs.
Similar sentiments would no doubt be harboured by the people
of the North as well who would like to break out of their
cloistered oppressive existence at the mercy of a ruthless band
of terrorists and enjoy a normal life like the rest of their
brethren in the country.
The people of the North no doubt will be keenly observing the
unfolding scenario in the neighbouring East in the aftermath of
the polls where its populace will be savouring the fruits of
democracy after being oppressed for over two decades.
It is important that the Government does not lose valuable
time in the afterglow of its convincing victory and instead up
the momentum of the gigantic development tasks it had undertaken
for the Province so that the East may indeed turn out to be a
model in development for the rest of the country.
It is incumbent therefore that the interim council to oversee
development of the North gets cracking without delay so that the
Eastern development will have its spillover into the adjacent
areas of the North. The high-powered Committee (headed by
Minister Douglas Devananda) appointed in this regard has already
begun work.
But the full benefits of any development programme for the
North presupposes the total defeat of the LTTE and this mission
the Government has undertaken with unprecedented zeal with many
Tiger strongholds falling into the hands of the forces.
It is hoped that the Government’s ongoing military campaign
would eliminate the LTTE threat as it did in the East before
long and the North too integrated into the scheme of things.
In this context it is vital the Government proceed towards
making Eastern development an attractive venture in all respects
so that it would gain the attention of the people of the North
who would yearn for the same opportunities that had been denied
to them which would in turn increase their resentment towards
the LTTE. This may indirectly help the Government in its
military thrust.
True, the North may present a different kettle of fish in
respect of development needs for unlike the East it is the North
which had borne the brunt of the three decades long conflict
which has reduced the Northern landscape to a wasteland.
Its dynamics too are different to the East and much thought
should go into its eventual rebuilding taking into account the
various configurations. Developing the infrastructure in the
battle-scarred North itself would be a mindboggling prospect
which the Government may not be able to handle on its own.
It is therefore doubly important that the Eastern project be
given pride of place so that its success could be marketed as a
catalyst for aid flow to develop the North. All parties should
shed their differences and join in this gigantic exercise.
The rancour that marked the just concluded polls should be
put aside for the greater good of the Eastern population. The
opposition had already declared it would cooperate with all
pro-people projects that will be undertaken by the newly formed
Eastern Provincial Council.
This certainly is the right approach and in the right spirit.
Political wrangling is the last thing one needs given the
magnitude of the task ahead. The Government too should strive to
work in a spirit of magnanimity. We are not yet aware who the
Chief Minister of the Eastern Province would be.
This is also the first time a breakaway group of the LTTE is
sampling democratic rule. It is therefore incumbent on all
actors to ensure the experiment would be a success and more,
prove a catalyst for the induction of more armed elements to the
democratic mainstream. |