Terror, peace and freedom

"The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has hinted it is prepared to go beyond the bounds of the constitution to offer Tamils the hope of a workable deal after the war is over."

by Vipul

(December 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Shockwaves that the recent attacks in Mumbai sent across the globe have galvanised all the world leaders into pledging solidarity with India, reassessing their counter terror strategies and adopting new measures to protect their countries.

“A world where innocents are killed by extremists based on twisted ideologies cannot be tolerated,” said US President-elect Barack Obama in the wake of last month's attacks.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also called on the Pakistani government to mount a “robust” response to the attacks in Mumbai.

Her remarks came as some sections of Sri Lankan media argued that Sri Lanka also needs global support to eradicate terrorism.

At the same time, Tamil leaders worry the recent Mumbai events may harden the views on terrorism. They have also suggested that Pakistan teaming up with Sri Lanka in the war against Tamil extremists will not augur well for India’s security.

The international community is showing little interest in the Sri Lankan conflict these days.

Experts say that Sri Lanka alone would never be able to defeat the LTTE or the Tamil militancy without India’s direct intervention.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is to take a break from hectic negotiations with Pakistan and head towards Sri Lanka to discuss the Tamil problem, media reports said on December 4.

In a related development, Tamil National Alliance MP Padmini Sithamparanathan said recently: “It is high time that the international community and the human rights organisations prevail upon the Sri Lanka government to stop the war, enter into peace negotiations and resolve the human crisis.”

She also voiced alarm over the crisis of displaced people in northern Sri Lanka.

Government officials and humanitarian agencies estimate that between 230,000 and 300,000 displaced persons have been trapped in a small area of the eastern Vanni by fierce fighting between the military and the separatists.

The Catholic Bishop of Jaffna, Rev Thomas Savundaranayagam, meanwhile, wants India to pressurise the Tamil Tigers to release the civilians who are held captive in the north Sri Lankan war zones of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

Rev Savundaranayagam, whose diocese extends to areas in the current war zone in the Wanni region, was quoted by New Indian Express as saying that he had asked TNA MPs to ask the Indian government to put pressure on the Tigers to release the civilians it had been holding captive.

Sri Lanka's political parties need to take urgent measures to end the suffering of people because of the ongoing war.

In his November 26 message, Tiger supremoe Velupillai Prabhakaran has indicated that he hopes to whip up support for the cause of Tamil separatism and hatred against Sri Lanka and Sinhalese among Tamils, especially young Tamils the world over.

Sri Lanka’s mainstream politicians should take meaningful steps urgently to counter such possibilities by promoting peace and unity in the country.

Some observers have stressed the urgent need for a set of fresh proposals for adequate and meaningful autonomy –underwritten by India and the international community.

Amid concerns over the human cost of the ongoing war, UNP MP Laksman Seneviratne has said that a political solution based on extensive devolution of power should be implemented for Tamils after curbing terrorism.

Military offensives aimed at curbing the Tigers should be continued and a ceasefire won't be necessary until the offensives come to an end, he told parliament on December 4.

The UNP MP’s remarks parliament came days after India’s Tami Nadu Congress party president K V Thangkabalu spoke of the need to quickly implement the Rajiv Gandhi- J R Jayewardene accord in letter and spirit. He also said the accord provided for the peaceful existence of Tamils within the framework of Sri Lanka.

The conflict has been going on for a long time now.

The civilian population is very tired and is longing for peace and security that remain elusive.

The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has hinted it is prepared to go beyond the bounds of the constitution to offer Tamils the hope of a workable deal after the war is over.

The UNP, which is supporting the current military offensive, should also help the president to arrive at a consensus on a peace plan to be offered to TNA politicians such as R Sampanthan who got a mandate in 1977 to step up their political battle for equal rights.

It is hoped President Rajapaksa would introduce reforms to the current system. He could go down in our history as the president who restored democracy to this country and more importantly took hate out of politics. - Sri Lanka Guardian