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"Talks should recommence on the basis of the ISGA and quickly at that"

"The stalled peace process should be recommenced quickly on the basis of the ISGA proposals submitted by the LTTE in the interest of peace and effectively carrying out urgent humanitarian needs of the people in the NorthEast" said His Highness the Bishop of Jaffna Dr.Thomas Savundaranayagam in an exclusive interview to the Tamil Daily 'Thinakkural'.

Following are excerpts from this interview.

Q: What is your assessment of the present political situation and the current status of the peace process?

A: The peace talks are held in abeyance for about an year now. The people wish and rightly so, the peace talks should recommence as early as possible. As neutral observers, we see a number of impediments and obstacles in the process, so to say, that the Norwegian facilitators themselves are said to be frustrated. On the one hand the LTTE, as representatives of the Tamil people, has put forward their proposals for the ISGA saying that this is the only device that could deliver long delayed urgent humanitarian needs so that confidence could be built and negotiations for a political resolution taken forward. The Sri Lankan government has an obligation therefore to do its part to recommence negotiations.

Unfortunately though, there are different opinions and thinking among the various coalition partners in the government. We also observe that the president expresses keen interest in this problem but not gainfully engaged in any effective measures rather than retaining power of a minority government at any cost. Her coalition partner JVP has been and is continuing to be vocal in its opposition to the LTTE and its proposals. People and national minded politicians are highly perturbed over this stalemate situation. This is definitely dangerous.

According to media reports the government is said to be in the process of formulating a set of counter proposals. The Tamil people are very much skeptical and suspicious of this move in view of their historical experience of deception and procrastination.

Q: The JVP is propagating a concept that the ISGA is the foundation for a separate state. In this context what is your message to the people in the south to allay their suspicion and fears?

A: No doubt, the ISGA proposals must be subject to discussion and that is what negotiation is all about. It is therefore wrong to say that something has been predetermined. The ISGA proposals were handed over by the LTTE with the affirmation that they will be subject to negotiation. This has been accepted by the then government. The LTTE, as against the allegation, is not dogmatic in subjecting any of the proposal for negotiation. They continue to reiterate that the proposals are negotiable. It is my opinion that it is not prudent and circumspect to propagate the idea of a foundation for secession.

Q: The parities to the CFA, the GoSL and the LTTE, are both engaged in pronouncements that they are ready for war. This has led to a state of panic in the minds of the people. How do you see this?

A: The people of this country and more so the Tamil people, have faced a cruel war and its disastrous consequences during the last two decades. We have all seen death and destruction and in fact we have lived in the midst of it. And Therefore it is nothing but natural that we are all panicky of the prospect of a war again. All the people, especially all the peace loving people, wish that the government should take the initiatives to restart the peace process and demonstrate their good will in arriving at a final resolution that would bring about peace with dignity to all citizens.

Q: What do you think, are the steps that the GoSL and the LTTE can take to build mutual confidence?

A: The government should approach the resolution of this protracted conflict with honesty and sincerity of purpose. If the government, by any chance thinks of procrastination, no solution could be found. On the other hand there must be consolidation, commitment, and consensus within the rank and file of the government and in short, an attitudinal change. An important impediment in this context is the unconcerned attitude of some coalition partners in the government towards the Tamil national question. Also the majoritarian and racial supremacist ideology and adamant adherence and insistence on the so-called inalienable unitary state, one nation-one language-one religion and the predominance of such factors are unfortunately more serious impediments, if I may say so.

We cannot, in the foreseeable future, expect a change of heart among these radical elements. However the government has a moral responsibility to educate its partners and bring about a consensus that would facilitate reaching a final resolution.

Q: What do you say on the killings in Batticaloa and the suburbs of Colombo?

A: These killings are taking place in locations far away form us. We learn of them only through the media. It is said that these violence and the killings are taking place with the help and knowledge of the military and one has to also consider the peculiar phenomenon of these killings taking place in the military controlled areas. I would only urge the military and any others involved in these killings to end these killings and help to bring peace to the country.

31 August 2004

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