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The need for reconciliation

Most right-thinking persons are likely to approve the content and tone of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's letter to LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham, in response to the latters written announcement made some days back, of the LTTE decision to suspend peace talks with the Government.

Considering the delicate situation in which the peace process has been placed by the LTTE decision to suspend peace talks, the Premier's reply couldn't have been better crafted. One of the ironies of our times is that a reconciliatory attitude is taken in some quarters as a sign of weakness. This is most unfortunate. It is, perhaps, a measure of the degree to which essential human values have been blacked out among some sections in their discourse on issues pertaining to peace and communal harmony in this country.

However, the political leadership of this country cannot afford to adopt populist positions on so vital a matter as the National Question, if it is to live up to the faith reposed in it by the more peace-loving sections of the public. This country has earned for itself an enormous and overwhelming bitter harvest in the past, as a result of those at the helm of the State pandering to populist sentiments. We cannot afford to traverse that road again and we fully endorse the Prime Minister's decision to continue to extend a hand of friendship and cordiality to the LTTE.

A duty is cast on those steering the ship of State to change the political culture of this country from one of bitter divisiveness to one of partnership, unity and cordial camaraderie and we are glad that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken up this challenge. Equally appreciated are the Government's moves to usher in a May Day with a difference - one which was aimed at changing the country's political culture for the better.

All this does not mean that naive sentimentality could take the place of sensible decision-making, informed by a strong sense of realism. The Government is obliged to make realistic choices to serve the national interest and given the situation facing the country, the Prime Minister could be said to have acted rationally and realistically by calling on the LTTE to continue to work in partnership with the Government for the furtherance of peace.

We hope this gesture of friendship would be reciprocated by the LTTE. It is best that the latter realises that any hasty decisions would impact adversely on the totality of the country. We, no doubt, have a long uphill struggle to lasting peace. The labours to be exerted in this direction are likely to be monumental. Improvements and gains would be gradual and incremental rather than sudden and dramatic.

Sri Lanka's glass of achievements should be regarded as half full rather than half empty. No doubt, much remains to be done, but the LTTE would do well - as the Prime Minister himself has requested them - to ponder on the plusses which just one and a half warless years have garnered for the North-East alone.

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