A message to the world

The reiteration at the UN by President Mahinda Rajapaksa of his commitment to a political solution to the national problem would no doubt serve to allay the fears of many sections who suspect that the Government, riding on a wave of military success would shelve a political settlement to the conflict which had hitherto defied a solution.

That the President has made this commitment at no less a forum than the UN General Assembly would certainly reinforce this commitment notwithstanding certain elements trying to portray him as a hardliner and war monger who would not compromise on a military solution.

The President had always elucidated his two track formula of defeating terrorism militarily while implementing a political solution to enable all communities to co-exist in peace and harmony.

In fact it is the LTTE which forced the President's hand to go all out against it exactly two years ago when it blocked the Mavil aru anicut cutting off water to the villages. He has not looked back since and had responded to the Tigers in the only language they understand with the result that a final victory is now on the horizon for the forces.

But President Rajapaksa never closed the doors on a political solution and he is still of the same mindset despite the unprecedented victories on the military front.

Addressing the 63rd UN Sessions in New York President Rajapaksa said that "the Government will not permit undermining of the territorial integrity of the sovereign UN Member State of Sri Lanka and the division of it's territory".

He said "We are always ready to address the cause of these issues and effectively implement political and constitutional solutions to meet the rights and aspirations of all communities".

The changing military balance could have spurred any President to ride rough shod on demands for a political solution. But as a true democratic leader and statesman he has opted to address the core issues of the problem with the realisation that the ultimate solution lay in a political settlement.

He had already created the mechanism for evolving a political solution through the APRC and has won the confidence of the democratic Tamil polity to implement a durable solution. Now that the military offensive is in its final phase it behoves the international community to help in this process by assisting in further marginalising the LTTE in the West followed by economic assistance to rebuild the country.

There should also necessarily be domestic support where all parties shed their differences and rally to support this process leading to peace and goodwill among all communities.

To his eternal credit President Rajapaksa has chosen not be swayed by the strident call of certain elements to ignore a political solution at a time the military was in the ascendency. He has made it clear that he would not permit the division of the country. This should be a guarantee for these elements to readjust their entrenched thinking and help restore this country to its pristine era when peace and harmony reigned among all communities.

The bona fides of the President could be seen by his single minded purpose in reviving the democratic process in the liberated East and restoring the dignity of the Tamil community who were under the jackboot of the terrorists not very long ago.

As often stated it is his desire to transpose this same scenario in the North too, paving the way for full integration of all segments to form a cohesive unit under a single nation.

World leaders it is hoped would have empathised with the President's uncompromising stance with regard to terrorism. The recent carnage wrought by terrorists in Pakistan and India has more than ever brought home the grim reality of the consequences of international terrorism on the loose.

The UN as a world body formed with the noble ideal of bringing together all nations cutting across different ideologies and cultures no doubt would harken to the President's stance that he would not condone a dismemberment of Sri Lanka as a sovereign UN State.

By his insistence that the LTTE first lays down arms before talks the President has in no unequivocal terms has sent a signal that he is not ready to compromise. He is the first Lankan leader who has laid down the ground rules for talks and wrested the initiative so that the Government is in a position to dictate its own terms vis a vis the LTTE.

What was clear in the President's address was his reiteration that he would not allow a terrorist group to hold a community hostage. By this he has demonstrated that he wants the Tamils living under the grip of the LTTE, liberated and brought into the national mainstream. It is hoped his speech has reinforced this message with the UN.