The
Prospects of Peace in Sri Lanka
Since 22nd
February 2002, the attention of the international community has been drawn to Sri Lanka,
as the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam have signed a
permanent ceasefire agreement to find a negotiated solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict
in Sri Lanka. We have to examine the reasons behind the move for the LTTE to sign the
ceasefire agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka, after fighting for nearly 19 years
demanding a separate State carved out of the island which has nearly 65,000 sq. km. of an
area.
The LTTE has been
gradually getting isolated in the international arena, due to their atrocities committed
on the civilian population. They have been identified as the most dangerous terrorist
group until the Al-Qaeda group came in to the international scene on 11th September 2001.
We should not forget that the LTTE has committed most horrendous crimes any terrorist
organization could only dream of up to that date.
These crimes committed
by the LTTE were few among the number of terrorist acts carried out by them on civilians.
The LTTE is the only terrorist organization who has so far assassinated leaders of two
countries i.e. a President of Sri Lanka and an ex Prime Minister of India. Other than that
they have eliminated number of Ministers, Members of the Parliament, Mayors, leading
politicians from both communities in Sri Lanka.
Isolation in
the World
The international
community who welcomes the Tamil Diaspora to their countries after July 1983 riots that
took place in Sri Lanka, changed their attitude since early 90’s when they realized
that the Tamil community in Sri Lanka was not persecuted by the Government of Sri Lanka or
by the majority community Sinhalese. Instead, they realized that the every Tamil or every
Sri Lankan leaving the island was not a genuine political refugee. Further, they realized
that the LTTE does not represent the majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The other Tamil
groups who took arms against the Government have already joined the democratic stream and
represented in the parliament.
At present the LTTE has
been banned by the USA, UK, India, Australia and Canada. India, who trained the Tamil
guerrillas, was the first country to ban the LTTE after the assassination of their Ex
Premier Rajeev Gandhi in 1992. In October 1997, the United States of America proscribed
the LTTE as a terrorist organization and commenced monitoring their activities in America.
In Canada, mounted police commenced tracing the LTTE fundraisers and tried them for
extortion and fund raising activities for the purchase of arms.
In this background,
when the United States of America was attacked by the Al-Queda group on 11th September
2001, the International community forged the war against the terrorism. This action
further isolated the LTTE in the international arena as the number of Governments has
frozen their accounts and assets. As a result the LTTE may have changed its mind to find a
negotiated political solution to the on going ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
Past attempts
taken to find a negotiated solution
The present Government,
which came to power in December 2001, on a pledge to establish the peace in the country
and to strengthen the economy of Sri Lanka, has been supported by the electorate. In
negotiating a ceasefire agreement with the LTTE, the Government decided to retain the
facilitatory role played by the Norwegian Government in view of the past experiences where
directly negotiated ceasefire arrangements failed due to misunderstandings and lack of
goodwill demonstrated by the parties. Unlike in the previous efforts, the Government does
not believe that constitutional reform is the only way out to solve the problem. Accepting
that, it was among the many other elements, the government of Sri Lanka realized that the
most important issue at this point of time was the confidence building to pave way to find
a negotiated settlement. The purpose of the signing of the Agreement on a ceasefire was to
create a positive atmosphere by ending hostilities to commence the negotiations. The
Government of Sri Lanka has learnt lessons from the past in order to not to repeat the
same errors. As a result, the Government’s intention is to commence peace discussions
in a solid foundation created in an atmosphere conducive to conduct discussions on a
positive basis.
The Agreement that came
into effect from 23rd of February 2002 provides for the facilitation of the Royal
Norwegian Government. A Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) of International monitors led
by Norway has been established. The SLMM has the power to inquire into any instance of
violation of the terms and conditions of the Agreement and to interpret the Agreement,
where it is necessary.
Salient
features of the agreement to restore normalcy are:
- The cessation of all
military actions by both parties;
- Separation of Forces;
- Demarcation of the
areas for the two parties;
- Freedom of movement;
- Freedom to engage in
political activities by the LTTE Cadres;
- Opening of the main
highway linking Kandy and Jaffna;
- Not to engage the
places of worship for propagating ideas that could offend cultural and religious
sensitivities;
- Disarm the
paramilitary groups;
- Vacating buildings
occupied by both parties and return them for their intended use;
- Ensure the unhindered
flow on non-military goods to the areas dominated by the LTTE;
- Removal of
restrictions on non-military goods gradually;
- Removing the
restriction on fishing;
- Suspension of the
arrest and search operation under the Prevention on Terrorism Act;
- Setting up of the
International Monitoring Mission;
- Establishment of the
communication between Commanders of Armed
-
Forces and the LTTE area Leaders to solve the
problems in the conflict zones.
Confidence
building measures taken by the Government
As part of the peace
initiative, the Government of Sri Lanka has taken a number of measures to ease the
economic hardships experienced by the people in the Northern and Eastern provinces and to
improve their living conditions. Several items, which were previously considered, banned
in the Northern and Eastern Provinces were either removed from the list of prohibited
goods or brought under a license regime. Similarly, the restrictions on fishing were also
lifted subject to certain limitations strictly essential in the interest of national
security. Even those limitations are reviewed regularly with a view to their ultimate
removal as the peace process moves forward.
The measures taken by
the Government have been welcome by the people of Sri Lanka. It was seen from the
overwhelming support received by the United National Front (UNF) during the recently
conducted Local Government Elections. Further, we could see the support of the business
community in Sri Lanka as they have commenced in investing in various projects in the
North to maintain an even development in all areas of the country. It displays the faith
they have in the on going peace process. Interest shown by the international companies to
invest in the country shows outcome of the economic potential they anticipate from the
peace process. In addition to that continuous backing of the international community for
peace process has been largely contributed to maintain the momentum. Moreover, a number of
civil society organizations in collaboration with the government continue to arrange
interactions between the people of the North and the South with a view to enhancing the
mutual understanding and consolidating the peace process.
The Agreement
specifically prohibits a party from moving munitions, explosives or military equipment
into the areas controlled by the other party. It also provides that the Sri Lankan Armed
Forces to perform their legitimate task of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Sri Lanka without engaging in offensive operations against the LTTE. Despite
these provisions, it is observed that the LTTE continues to engage in the transportation
of arms and ammunition by sea. The SLMM has ruled against the LTTE in an incident on 27
April 2002 involving transportation of arms in boats.
In General
The Government of Sri
Lanka is closely cooperating with the other Governments and International organizations
such as the United Nations, in their activities against terrorism, illicit arms
trafficking and other transnational crimes. Sri Lanka’s commitment under various
International Conventions against terrorism and our compliance with the United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1373 and the Government’s policy of negotiating a
political solution with the LTTE are complementing each other as the denial of financial
and hardware support to the LTTE will act as an incentive for them to enter and sustain
negotiations.
Unlike in earlier
instances, the present agreement signed with the LTTE, one could observe that both the
Government and the LTTE have undertaken internationally verifiable commitments to refrain
from initiating hostilities whilst the security forces of the Government of Sri Lanka
retain the right to take any action deemed necessary to defend the territorial integrity
and the security of the nation. It was a first time the both parties had undertaken
internationally verifiable commitments to ensure violence free environment to pursue
political negotiations.
Position taken
by the LTTE
The LTTE has
categorically and publicly stated that it’s precondition for participation in the
peace negotiation is that the Government should lift the proscription. The proscription of
the LTTE in Sri Lanka was originally effected under the Public Security Ordinance through
the promulgation of the emergency regulations. However, with the lapse of the emergency in
August 200I, the proscription was brought under the provisions of the Prevention of
Terrorism Act. Following the ceasefire agreement concluded between the Government and the
LTTE, the use of the PTA now remains suspended. In this context, the government is of the
view that the proscription of the LTTE may be suspended for the duration of the entire
negotiation period. The Royal Norwegian Government is consulting the LTTE with the view to
bringing it to the negotiating table on this understanding. The LTTE has publicly stated
that such an interim removal will not be acceptable to that organization.
The second requisite of
the LTTE is that they be allowed to control the administration of the northern &
eastern provinces for a specified period. The Government of Sri Lanka has agreed to
discuss the proposal at the talk on talks.
The negotiations are
expected to commence in Thailand at the end of June 2002. The Government of Sri Lanka has
been encouraged by the statements issued by number of Governments supporting the Peace
Process.
Text read out by
the author at a programme sponsored by NCWA, Last week.
Of
books and babies
-Patrick Ben
Soussan, Paedopsychiatrist, Marseilles, France
Life's little
explorers, in only a few months, learn to recognize and enjoy books. First of all
materially, books in their reality as objects (their size, color and smell, layout,
their…taste!) Children learn very quickly to approach books in a physical, sensory
way. They discover them, explore them from every angle, cling to them, suck them, chew
them and eat them.
But as soon as a child
has accepted a book as its own, won it over and incorporated it, here it is trying to
understand what lies behind the substance: the beginning, the end, the pages that follow
each other, the wrong side up and the right side and then the letters, how they are
organized and repeated…
The baby has understood
that the book's words express the world and, to begin with, the mother, father and all
those surrounding the baby. It is precisely for this reason that the print sellers have
had so much success with babies. They spell out the real, the everyday and make the things
and people associated with them present.
Books, at the dawn of
life, open on to an area as big as the giant of Zeralda, as colorful as the tall stories
and the magical and as lively as all those works with holes, pull tabs and hiding places.
Books really are funny things, full of meaning and life.
Do you realize all that
can be said and written. At the start of this third millennium, about this unusual
encounter between books, babies and adults that will act as conveyor of culture, great
architect and travelling companion?/ Unthinkable even such a short time ago and perhaps
still so for some, who are sure that babies do not understand anything about the written
word.
But the 21 century baby
is no longer really a baby. It is no longer even infans, he who does not speak, he is a
person endowed with a thousand abilities, a real scholar, who only asks to be treated with
care, respect and..love, in its true sense. A man's little one, a being of desires and
words, awakening in those who deal with him, cherish him, care for him and look after him,
violent and unfamiliar feelings and emotions.
A being of desires and
words: Babies are therefore entitled to culture, early on. They are entitled to a history
and to stories, to play with words, language and to tear up books as well. They are
entitled to be lazy, to dream and to explore the world and its inhabitants, taking their
time. This means that putting books everywhere where there are babies, at home, in the
nursery, in hospitals and toy libraries is certainly not so that they learn to read better
and more quickly, learning earlier and earlier, like a force-fed goose. No, it is in order
to make the world more "readable", to pass on the importance of language, of
sharing, of play, of aesthetics, of poetry in fact.
Go on, be poets,
imagine, dream. "Feed"' books to babies, read them with them, give them your
time, yourselves, what is deep within you, living true, a taste for the world and the
pleasure of understanding it and living in it.
Over twenty years ago,
in France, child psychiatrists joined up with those working in the book trade to make
books accessible to babies. Their work, today acknowledged and shared, proves the
importance of this simple phrase: "Babies need hugs, milk..and stories"'. A
simple phrase, a few written words that will sing the music of life for a long time yet.
Text courtesy:
Label France N43 April 2001. Embassy of France in Kathmandu. |
