Time to heal the wounds

Dr Palitha Kohona

Sri Lanka is at a decisive phase in its history. All Sri Lankans, whether living in Sri Lanka or abroad, have an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to ending the two decade old conflict and ushering in an honourable peace - the unrealised dream of many.

We have the opportunity to end the violence and hopelessness that pervades some parts of our society and usher in an era of hope for all. Sri Lanka’s security forces are unremittingly pushing in to territory hitherto controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Now they are at the gates of Kilinochchi, the pretended capital of the illusion that was Eelam.

The Arugam Bay bridge signifies Eastern Resurgence

In parallel, the Government has embarked on a deliberate programme of extending democratic and inclusive governance to those parts of the country that are continuing to fall under its control.

Proactively inclusive approaches, and the rapid consolidation of civilian administration, are critical parts of the Government’s strategy to restore normality, enhance civilian confidence and heal the wounds inflicted over the last twenty five years of conflict.

Consciously, the Government has begun to implement the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution and accordingly one of the keystones of the Indo Lanka Accord.

Sri Lankans who have made their home in other countries can become vital stakeholders in the effort to restore normality and ending this unfortunate conflict. The Security Forces will continue to confront the LTTE to constrict its ability to engage in violence and terrorism and to convince the LTTE that it will not win on the battlefield.

The successful military campaign in the Eastern Province resulted in the Government being able to conduct elections for the first time in over two decades in the East. Reflecting the Government’s liberal inclusive approach, a Tamil from the province was elected as the Chief Minister. He had been a former LTTE child soldier who has made a commitment to eschew violence and return to the democratic fold. The elections may not have been perfect.

(Even in mature democracies, electoral processes have their shortcomings).

But encouragingly, over 65 per cent of the voters cast their ballots. The violence level leading up to the polls was low. This result was a victory for the policy of the Government to establish a culture of democratic inclusiveness in the Eastern Province. It will do the same in the Northern Province, once normality is restored.

Recognising the importance of reviving the economy of the East, massive amounts of funding (approximately Rupees 20 billion) is being channelled to the province. Roads, harbours, schools, hospitals, clinics are being restored, and electricity reconnected.

Towns that never had electricity are now being connected to the national grid. Major highways are being built. Bilateral aid donors have enthusiastically joined in the efforts of the Government to restore the infrastructure of the East. Encouraged by generous tax incentives, the private sector is increasingly demonstrating interest in its agricultural, fisheries and tourism potential. All this provides opportunities for the expatriate community to become parties to the economic revival.

Addressing the political concerns of our minorities, in particular the Tamil Minority is a parallel policy preoccupation of the Sri Lankan Government.

An All Party Representative Committee (APRC) of the Parliament produced an interim set of constitutional proposals to address these concerns and included further devolution of powers to the Provincial Councils ensuring greater people participation, better funding for them and more effective implementation of the legislative provisions on Sinhala, Tamil and English language usage.

Following an APRC recommendation, the Government will recruit 2,000 Tamil speakers to the Eastern Province police force. The Government has made a firm commitment to give effect to all these recommendations.

The APRC process, though slow due to the very nature of the Sri Lankan political tapestry, was itself a clear illustration of the democratic approach favoured by the Government.

Fourteen political parties represented in Parliament took approximately one and a half years to achieve a consensus on the interim proposals. The APRC will continue to explore additional ideas pursuant to its mandate and seek the concurrence of the majority of the political spectrum.

The Government itself is a rainbow coalition. It reflects the country’s ethnic, religious, and social diversity. Given the nature of its composition, it is also this Government that is most likely to be able to deliver on any commitments that are undertaken to resolve the conflict.

While elections were held in the Eastern Province within twelve months of evicting the LTTE, the Government was also able to return the vast majority of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes in a very short time span with the assistance of the UNHCR, the WFP and the ICRC.

The IDPs resulting from the current military push into LTTE controlled areas in the North will be similarly cared for and accommodated in facilities established in adjacent areas is also this government that is most likely to be able to deliver on any commitments that are undertaken to resolve the conflict.

Leaflets have been dropped encouraging them to move into these facilities along safe corridors. Arrangements have been made with partner UN agencies to provide the requisite food and health care for new arrivals. Large convoys of food and other essentials have been sent to the areas still under the control of the Tigers.

Special care has always been taken by the military to avoid civilian casualties because the Government considers it absolutely important to protect all its people. It is distressing to note the way the LTTE has forced large numbers of civilians to move in to the middle of the fighting to form a civilian shield or the way civilians, including school children, have been compulsorily required to undergo military training.

The extensive human rights training provided by the ICRC to the Security Forces have had a noticeable impact on their behaviour.

The Government of Sri Lanka has been continuing to seek a peaceful and honourable end to the conflict which has ravaged too many lives. It has also insisted that there be a firm commitment by the LTTE to bring the conflict to an end and to demobilise.

It is time for all Sri Lankans to move forward and leave behind the pain of yesterday. It is also time to contribute to creating an environment of hope for the future rather than continuing to revive the ghosts of past injustices, real or imagined.

(The writer is Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)