Govt striving for peace with honour and justice
Speech by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Inaugural Joint Meeting
of the All Party Representative Committee and the Panel of Experts on
Constitutional Reform
While our attempts to the negotiating table continues, we have a
responsibility to address the national question. The issue we are
dealing with is of the gravest importance. The problem has dragged on
for well over two decades and has retarded our progress; we have not
been able, over this period, to fulfil the true dreams and aspirations
of our people.
Over this same period, so many other countries less developed than
us, have surpassed us and have been able to deliver to their people
hope, benefits, higher standards of living and a better quality of life.
Resolve
Successive have taken initiatives to resolve our national problem
without much success, which points to a weakness which we need to
overcome. However we have the capability, the values and the commitment
to do so.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa |
In the past we may not have demonstrated the political courage to
take the bold decisive steps necessary, and as a result have failed to
improve the quality of life of our people leading to dashed hopes and
aspirations, not to mention lost opportunities.
I regard it as my bounden duty to do my best with all sincerity and
commitment, however difficult the task is, to strive for peace on behalf
of all our people. I will take whatever measures necessary to bring
peace with honour and justice to my country; your country; our country.
However, it is not a task that can be performed only by the President
of the country however powerful the office of the Executive President
may be. Finding a political and constitutional solution to the national
question requires a multi-party effort and an inclusive approach.
We need to devise a HOME GROWN solution with the support of our
people. I think it important that any solution must be underpinned by
our great traditional values and heritage moulded by the four great
religions practiced in our country.
The core human values of compassion, kindness, understanding,
generosity, forgiveness and trust are ingrained in our religions and
consequently, in us, and must form the basis for any solution to the
national question.
Inspiring examples
It is also important that we study the experiments in political and
constitutional reform in other parts of the world, including our region,
bearing in mind our own specificities as well as commonalities. We must
look to other inspiring examples and draw the appropriate lessons.
I have every confidence that we will succeed eventually, with the
good will and support of the world community and the determination of
our people. Our success will enable us to hold ourselves as a good
example to the rest of the world in conflict resolution as there are
many more such conflicts around the world.
Your proposals will be the ones which will be examined for adoption
by the APC. Thus your role and contribution is critical. I would urge
that your proposals be creative and imaginative. I wish to take this
opportunity to place before you what I consider to be some elements that
need to be encapsulated in the broad framework for a political and
constitutional solution to the national question.
National problem
The international community have endorsed our approach - a solution
to the national problem must exclude any division of the country. Each
party represented here, has its own solution to the national question.
We will discuss and synthesize these different approaches and develop
our own Sri Lankan model.
We must explore all past attempts from the Bandaranaike -
Chelvanayagam pact onwards. We must draw appropriate lessons from the
experience of other countries. I will not impose a solution on the
country.
But in keeping with the sentiments enunciated in the Mahinda
Chintanaya, you will through your deliberations provide a broad
framework that will generate a consensus among all parties.
In the settlement of the conflict we cannot for short term expediency
sacrifice our cherished democratic values and our commitment to the rule
of law. Nor can we ignore the human rights standards sweeping through
every corner of the globe.
There is justifiable cause for our insistence on these issues. There
are other situations where the fundamental rights of individuals might
have been infringed. We will insist on democratic values, political
pluralism and the tolerance of dissent being established within the
shortest possible time throughout the country.
We will make every effort to advance human rights standards in every
part of this land. The challenge is to evolve a solution that meets
these fundamental basic needs. The rule of law, basic decency in the
conduct of those in authority are also core values that we must
safeguard.
The need to respond equally to these rightful expectation and we hope
that the settlement that we offer will pave the way to embrace these
values which are a norm in all civilised and developed societies the
world over.
Question of minorities
People in their own localities must take charge of their destiny and
control their politico-economic environment. Central decision making
that allocates disproportionate resources has been an issue for a
considerable time.
In addition, it is axiomatic that devolution also needs to address
issues relating to identity as well as security and socio-economic
advancement, without over-reliance on the centre. In this regard, it is
also important to address the question of regional minorities.
In sum, any solution needs to as a matter of urgency allow people to
take charge of their own destiny. This has been tried out successfully
in many parts of the world.
There are many examples from around the world that we may study as we
evolve a truly Sri Lankan constitutional framework including our
immediate neighbour, India. Improving the lives of Sri Lankans all over
the country is our ambition. Improving the lives of the impoverished in
the North and the East is a priority.
Safe environment
Having suffered much over these two decades of a war imposed on them
by, we must create a safe, stable and meaningful environment that
enables the impoverished in the North and the East to participate in
economic activity, which will give them the capacity to progress towards
their life ambitions.
The government has committed US$1.25 billion for this purpose and we
are encouraging active private sector and international agency
involvement in the development of the North and the East. Rapid
development is quite achievable within a short time given the
international community’s desire to engage in the reconstruction effort
and the local entrepreneurs’ desire to invest in this area.
The government remains committed to channelling investment funds to
the North and the East. I believe that the beneficiaries of such
development must be the people of the North and the East.
One thing that eludes us is peace. But that is no justification for
prolonging the return of normalcy or allowing impoverished people to
continue in fear and poverty, whether it be in the conflict-affected
North and the East or the rest of the country. One cannot take a
fatalistic stand that the future will be somehow and somewhat better for
the future generation. Why not make it happen now?
Immediate resolution
The solution we offer should be one that offers an immediate
resolution to the ones affected. It is not enough to keep people waiting
in fear for an uncertain future.
Any solution must be seen to be good and reasonable enough to address
the concerns for which great suffering has been endured. Large numbers
have sacrificed their lives, lives of many others have been devastated
and resulted in displacement of family units who have migrated to safer
countries to avoid conflict. Many a mother’s tears have flowed over the
lifeless body of a child killed in this needless conflict.
It therefore behoves on particularly the majority community to be
proactive in striving for peace and there must be a demonstration of a
well stretched hand of accommodation. Any solution must therefore
address these expectations as well.
The role of the All Party Representative Committee as well as, its
Panel of Experts is to fashion creative options that satisfy the minimum
expectations that I had enumerated earlier as well as provide a
comprehensive approach to the resolution of the national question
invited to engage itself on this process. It is only by doing so that
the aspirations of the Tamil people can be addressed, not through
streams of blood and shattered limbs.
There are well-wishers locally and internationally who will be glad
to help with ideas that address the concerns of both sides. I would also
suggest that the interest groups in our society be invited to contribute
their views in a specified period of time so that such ideas too may be
considered.
Violent conflict
I wish the All Party Representative Committee and its Panel of
Experts all success in their collective endeavour in formulating a
political and constitutional framework for the resolution of the
national question. It is imperative that the process moves speedily and
effectively.
After more than two decades of a protracted, cruel and violent
conflict, the country cannot wait any longer to usher in a just and a
sustainable peace for all peoples of Sri Lanka irrespective of their
place of origin, ethnicity and religion.
My hope is that this conflict that has torn brother from brother and
sister from sister can be brought to an end now. Let the soothing
thoughts of peace be a balm in your discussions. Let your work provide
hope to every tear drenched eye and an inspiration to every flickering
dream.
May the blessings of the noble Triple Gem be with you |