Persist in conflict-resolution effort

Winning the peace is the next great chore that needs to be taken-up by Sri Lanka. This momentous undertaking we do not consider as the exclusive obligation of the state, although the bulk of the peace work would need to be initiated and shouldered by the government. However, a durable peace is also a matter of attitudinal change and here is where the civilian public too comes in. The state has to be consistently supported in this great venture through people's attitudes which are strongly supportive of a just settlement. Ideally, this sea change in attitudes should happen very visibly and substantially.

It speaks volumes for the spirit of humanity and tolerance among our communities that we have had no ethnic friction in this country since 1983. No lives have been lost in violence of the kind that engulfed this country in July that unfortunate year and this is something which should be appreciated by all. However, the idea needs to catch on that much remains to be done by way of peace-building and sustaining and here is where pro-peace attitudes need to be constantly fostered and sustained in the public. This is a chore for both the state and civilian society.

At a time when 'reconciliation' is commented on very copiously and written on very voluminously too, it is little realized, perhaps, that reconciliation has very much to do with the recognition and acceptance of who is referred in Political Science jargon as the 'Other'. That is, no individual or group in this land should be viewed by anyone as aliens or outsiders who should be rejected. Nothing short of loving acceptance of each other is what reconciliation is essentially all about and it is this most heart-warming and elevating state of affairs that we have to work towards.

The just outlined transformation in attitudes should, ideally, accompany present efforts at resuming the government-TNA dialogue on bringing a political solution to our conflict. Progressive opinion in this country would be greatly heartened by the fact that the government is willing to sit at the negotiating table with the TNA. We call on the TNA to get back to the negotiating process with the state, with a view to working out a comprehensive solution.

The government-TNA talks would dovetail, apparently, with state initiatives to set in motion the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) process and it is most encouraging that the state would be calling on the political parties represented in Parliament to name their nominees to the PSC. We urge the state to be steady with this effort of bringing into being the PSC and add that this exercise must be seen to bear fruit in abundance.

The time could not be riper for an all-out effort to resolve the conflict comprehensively. The UPFA is enjoying a substantial majority in Parliament and President Mahinda Rajapaksa is on record that he would be fully supportive of a consensus arrived at by the PSC. So, the proverbial iron is hot and calling out to be struck.

As mentioned in this commentary before, a political solution to the conflict would be the most effective rebuttal of the allegations that are being currently levelled at this country internationally. Basically, the impression must gain ground that normality exists in this country in the strictest sense of the term. Besides communal amity and peaceful co-existence among groups, it should be plain to see that every citizen here leads a life of dignity.

This dignity must remain inviolate. One of the most effective ways of ensuring this condition is by outlawing all ideologies and beliefs that tend to cause divisions among our public. Communalism, for instance, is one such political ideology which must be shown the door. The removal of communalism will also ensure social amity and the full acceptance of the 'Other'.

Ideally, there must be a coming together of minds on this issue. We Sri Lankans must unite and stay united under our country's flag but we need to ensure that strong and not superficial ties bind us to each other. True reconciliation would mean that the citizens of this country are accepting each other on the basis fraternal amity. This is true nation-building.